MaxPreps 2016-17 Tennessee preseason high school girls basketball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard

Video: TOC girls basketball - Riverdale (TN)
See all the fun as MaxPreps and the Army National Guard honor one of the best teams in the nation.


1. Riverdale (Murfreesboro)
Head coach: Randy Coffman
2015-16 record: 32-4

Last year the Warriors were the preseason favorite in Tennessee's largest public school (3A) class. The team took awhile to jell, losing four times before getting it all together to win the school's fifth state title. In his second season at Riverdale, Randy Coffman returns a roster filled with future Division I players, including senior Anastasia Hayes (5-7 guard, committed to Tennessee), junior Brinae Alexander (5-10 small forward with multiple Power 5 offers) and twin junior wing players Alexis Whittington and Amanda Whittington (both 5-10, committed to Middle Tennessee). The Warriors will not shy away from competition during the regular season with a December trip to Arizona to play in the Nike Tournament of Champions and individual games with Georgia powers Collins Hill and Norcross.

See the MaxPreps Tennessee girls basketball computer rankings presented by the Army National Guard

2. Hamilton Heights Christian Academy (Chattanooga)
Head coach: Keisha Hunt
2015-16 record: 29-5

Hamilton Heights is a very small, independent (non-state associated and does not play for a Tennessee state title) school that packs a big punch. The team is young with only one starting senior and two freshmen who should receive quality minutes. Amber Hunt (5-8 wing, coach's daughter, committed to Alabama State) is the only impact senior. She is surrounded by three Power 5 prospects in juniors Jazmine Massengill (6-0 point guard), Elizabeth Balogun (6-1 small forward) and freshman Treasure Hunt (6-0 wing, coach's daughter). At 6-6 and recently arrived from Brazil, freshman center Kamilia Soares has a Power 5 upside but needs time to mature. In her eighth year guiding the Hawks, Keisha Hunt will take her team on the road to events in Arkansas, Kentucky and Maryland with in-state battles with White Station in November and Brentwood Academy in January.

See the MaxPreps Tennessee girls basketball stat leaders

3. White Station (Memphis)
Head coach: Tommy Warren
2015-16 record: 20-8

The Spartans have never made the final eight of the Tennessee State 3A playoffs but a lineup filled with seniors with Division I offers gives them a good chance to get that done come March. Tennessee-Martin senior commits Damiah Griffin (5-11 small forward) and Zaire Hicks (5-9 point guard) should lead the way. Quential Battle (6-2 power forward, committed to Arkansas Little Rock) and Taylor Williams (5-8 shooting guard committed to Mississippi Valley State) should also contribute. In his second year as Spartans coach, Tommy Warren will challenge his squad by playing in the Tennessee Turkey Jamm in November and heading out of state to events in Mississippi and Ohio in December.

See the MaxPreps Tennessee girls basketball photos

4. Brentwood Academy
Head coach: Rhonda Brown
2015-16 record: 26-5 In Tennessee, the state governing body (TSSAA) runs a separate postseason tournament for private schools and Brentwood Academy has won three Division II Class AA titles in a row (four total). Now in her 16th year at the school, Rhonda Brown has a lineup with enough Division I college talent to keep the titles coming. Junior Sydni Harvey (5-9 guard) has offers from Power 5 schools and provides firepower on the wing. Senior Bria Dial (6-0 forward, committed to Tennessee Chattanooga) provides scoring in and out of the key. Junior Kallie Searcy (6-2 post) operates in the paint. A trip to the Nike Tournament of Champions in December highlights the Eagles' schedule.

See the MaxPreps Tennessee girls basketball playoff brackets

5. Bradley Central (Cleveland)
Head coach: Jason Reuter
2015-16 record: 34-4

Bradley Central is one of the more legendary programs in Tennessee girls basketball, with five state titles -- but none since 1976. Last year Jason Reuter (now in his seventh year as head coach) led the Bearettes to the 3A Final Four and would like to go one round farther come March. Junior Rhyne Howard (6-0 guard/forward, being recruited at the high major Division I level) plays point guard but can be slotted up to the power forward position. Other contributors should be seniors Halle Hughes (5-9 shooting guard, committed to nearby Lee University), Emma Kate Brown (5-10 small forward) and Kailey McRee (5-10 power forward). Move-in Kimia Carter (5-9 sophomore wing) is already receiving Division I interest and should make an impact immediately. In November the team will host the Holiday Inn Express Thanksgiving Tournament and travel to Greenville, Tenn., for a Christmas tournament.