MaxPreps 2013-14 Alaska preseason girls basketball Fab 5

Click here to see the girls basketball preseason Fab 5 from every state

1. Wasilla
2012-13 record: 30-0
Head coach: Jeannie Hebert-Truax

Yes, the Warriors graduated all their starters, but Hebert-Truax is an outstanding coach, and the three straight state titles deserves some preseason respect. Wasilla may not be here at year’s end, but whoever beats the champs will have to earn it.

2. West (Anchorage)
2012-13 record: 16-11
Head coach: Charlie Engel

Another team that returns all its starters, West will rely on Chanel Bookert to knock down some jumpers. The Eagles, like Wasilla, have a great tradition, and third-year coach Charlie Engel has them back on track.

3. Kodiak
2012-13 record: 9-8
Head coach: Amy Rakers

Everyone’s back. With point guard Jerica Nelson running the show, the Bears are poised to make a big jump this year. Rakers, the only female coach in Alaska history to win a boys’ state title, has come out of retirement to take charge of the girls.

4. Dimond (Anchorage)
2012-13 record: 29-5
Head coach: Jim Young

The Lynx lost five seniors from the state runner-up team but Young has kept Dimond in Alaska’s upper echelon ever since he’s been there and he has some outstanding shooters, including senior Tara Thompson, to build around.

5. Soldotna
2012-13 record: 11-8
Head coach: Mark Tuter

There’s a bit of a dropoff after the top four, but Soldotna brings back a solid group from a team that suffered three of its eight losses to unbeaten Wasilla.