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

Video: Kayla Peterson's highlights vs. Las Cruces High
See the Rio Rancho player in action last season.


1. Carlsbad
2015-16 record: 27-3
Head coach: John Zumbrun

The Cavemen are a solid No. 1 choice in the preseason, based on excellent size and four starters returning from a team that reached the Class 6A state semifinals. The leader is 5-foot-8 sophomore Carsyn Boswell, who averaged 17.1 points and shot 81 percent from the free throw line while making first-team all-state. Other key veterans are 5-11 junior point guard Mariel Gomez, who averaged 5.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, 5.6 assists and committed only two turnovers per game; 6-0 senior Kim Best, who averaged 7.4 points and 8.6 rebounds, and 6-1 senior Teagan Rogers, who averaged 6.1 points and 6.4 rebounds.

See the MaxPreps New Mexico girls basketball computer rankings, presented by the Army National Guard

2. Eldorado (Albuquerque)
2015-16 record: 22-6
Head coach: Matt Dixson

The Eagles are expected to fly high with four returning starters, even though three of them are just juniors. The leader, however, is a senior, 5-7 Sydney Candelaria, who averaged 24.3 points, 5.0 assists and 3.0 steals while making all-state. She "has the heart of a lion," according to coach Matt Dixson, and will attend Fort Lewis College next year. The junior veterans are 5-10 Catessa Duran, who averaged 10.3 points; 5-6 Vivian Chavez, who averaged 8.7 points and 8.0 assists, and 5-5 Joely Depoy, who averaged 11.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and is the team's best defender. 

See the MaxPreps New Mexico girls basketball stat leaders

3. Hobbs
2015-16 record: 12-14
Head coach: Joe Carpenter The Eagles are expected to rebound in a big way this year with three returning starters, good team depth and confidence gained from last summer's 33-6 record. Junior Amaya Lewis (5-8), a Division I college prospect, is the leader after averaging 15 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 3.0 steals last year. Payton O'Brain, a 5-9 senior, averaged 8.0 points and 5.0 rebounds, while 5-7 junior Kiara Knight averaged 9.0 points and made 36 three-pointers.

See the MaxPreps New Mexico girls basketball photos

4. Roswell
2015-16 record: 29-2
Head coach: Fernie Sanchez

The defending Class 5A state champions are the only non-6A team to make our preseason Fab 5, based on the return of three starters and nine of their top 12. They will carry an 18-game winning streak into the season. Leading the way is University of New Mexico recruit Jaedyn De la cerda, a 5-6 senior who averaged 16.9 points, 3.0 assists and 2.8 steals. Kaitlyn Holl, a 5-8 junior, averaged 4.7 points and 5-3 senior Melanie Martinez is the third returning starter. Also expected to contribute are 5-8 senior Deavion Allen and 5-10 junior Valeria Bonilla, who is recovering from an injury.

See the MaxPreps New Mexico girls basketball playoff brackets

5. Rio Rancho
2015-16 record: 15-14
Head coach: Scott Peterson

Sparked by three juniors with Division I college potential, the Rams are ready to greatly improve their record,  coming off a 39-10 summer. The ever-improving juniors are 6-2 Kamirah Decker, who averaged 11.8 points and 6.5 rebounds; 5-10 Lexi Peterson, daughter of coach Scott Peterson, who averaged 6.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals; and 5-9 Camryn Hawkins, who averaged 6.2 points.