MaxPreps 2014-15 Connecticut preseason girls basketball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard

1. Capital Prep (Hartford)
Head coach: Tammy Millsaps
2013-14 record: 24-0

The champs are here, and they should be even more devastating than last season. Forward-center Kiah Gillespie (22.4 ppg, 10.3 rpg) and forward-guard Desiree Elmore (18.3 ppg, 11.3 rpg, 4.4 apg, 3.9 spg) have committed to Maryland and Syracuse, respectively. Guards Angelique Rodriguez (9.2 ppg) and Dazhane Ward also started for last season’s CIAC Class L queens. Prep will have better depth than last season, but is looking for a new point guard. Its schedule is something else, featuring out-of-state games against Riverdale Baptist, Md. (ranked second in MaxPreps Xcellent 25), South Medford, Ore. (17th) and Christ the King, N.Y.

"My goal is to play the best, and if we go 0-8 (out-of-state), oh well," Millsaps said. "It’ll prepare us for states."

View last season's Connecticut girls basketball rankings, presented by the Army National Guard

2. Weaver (Hartford)
Head coach: Wendell Williams
2013-14 record: 21-3

Few will be able to match the Beavers’ backcourt strength as senior DeJane (Snoop) James and junior Shaquana (Shaq) Edwards return for last season’s Class L runner-up. Last season James averaged 19.2 points and 9 assists (seventh in the nation based on stats entered to MaxPreps) and she’s signed to play at Hampton. Edwards (18.3 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 3.8 spg) has drawn interest from Central Florida, Cincinnati and UMass. The inside game is a concern due to the graduation of forwards Alyssa and Amanda Stewart.

"This year we’ll rely on numerous underclassmen to fill the void," Williams said. "(We’re) a very hungry team."

View last season's Connecticut girls basketball playoff brackets

3. Mercy (Middletown)
Head coach: Tim Kohs
2013-14 record: 25-2

The Tigers have almost become a fixture in the Class LL finals, having played in four of the last five and winning the title in 2013. They’re more than capable of making another run at the title as they return four starters from last season’s semifinalist (they lost to eventual champion Lauralton Hall). Maura Fitzpatrick (16.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg) starts her fourth season at guard and signed a letter of intent with Marist. Six-foot post Sarah Gallo and point guard Kendra Landy were both All-Southern Connecticut Conference Quinnipiac Division picks and guard Destine Perry returns, too, for the defending SCC champions.

View last season's Connecticut girls basketball stat leaders

4. Norwich Free Academy
Head coach: Bill Scarlata
2013-14 record: 22-3 (21-2)

Some folks in southeastern Connecticut might consider New London the team to beat in the region because it’s a defending state champion. NFA beat the Whalers in both meetings last season, the second time to win its third straight Eastern Connecticut Conference championship, so it gets the higher ranking (for now). ECC championship MVP Olivia Lane (center), Maya Bell (guard) and Cebria Outlow (forward) all return to help the Wildcats make a run at their fourth straight ECC title and eighth Class LL title. Guards Mackenzie Burke, Haley Conley, and Reide Jacksin provide even more firepower. NFA graduated all-state guard Alyssa Velles and doesn’t have much size outside of the six-foot Lane, so Scarlata hopes the team can use its depth and a fast pace to compensate.

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5. New London
Head coach: Holly Misto
2013-14 record: 24-4

The Whalers were the best surprise in state girls basketball last season as they went from the dregs (a 2-18 finish in 2012) to the Class M championship, the program’s first title. New London had two big offseason losses as senior leader Lexus Childs-Harris graduated, and head coach Kerrianne Dugan moved out of state, but it laid down a great foundation last season. Junior Charee Osborne (10.8 ppg, 11.6 rpg) and India Pagan (10.4 ppg, 9 rpg) are trouble inside, and senior Deanna McCarvell (12.3 ppg, 3.3 apg) and sophomore Jada Lucas (9.9 ppg, 3 apg, 2.8 spg) make up a veteran backcourt. Misto takes over the program having spent her last nine seasons leading Westerly, R.I.