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

Video: Homestead girls basketball highlights vs. Merrillville
See Homestead in action last season.


1. Homestead (Fort Wayne)
Head coach: Rod Parker
2015-16 record: 26-3

This should be the year for the Spartans, who have reached the Class 4A final each of the last two years, but have been denied that elusive state championship. Three starters return, paced by Miss Basketball candidate Karissa McLaughlin, a 5-foot-8 senior guard who averaged 24.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists and will be attending the University of Florida next year. Madisen Parker, another 5-8 senior guard and daughter of head coach Rod Parker, averaged 14.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists and will be attending Bowling Green University. The third veteran is 6-foot senior Jazmyne Geist, who averaged 9.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and is headed for the University of Northern Kentucky. Another key player ready to face a tough schedule is 5-8 senior Teryn Kline.

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2. Carmel
Head coach: Tod Windlan
2015-16 record: 23-5

Three starters and two transfers bolster the Greyhounds' shot at a state title. The key veterans are 5-11 junior point guard Amy Dilk (5-11), who averaged 12 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 3.3 steals; 6-3 junior Blake Smith, who averaged 9.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.1 blocks, and 5-5 Olivia Christy - the team's lone senior - who averaged 5.1 points. Another key player is 5-11 freshman Jasmine Mcwilliams, who averaged nearly 30 points as an eighth-grader and already has 20 college scholarship offers.

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3. North Central (Indianapolis)
Head coach: DeeAnn Ramey
2015-16 record: 18-6 The Panthers return all five starters - four of them double-figure scorers - and have plenty of depth. Indiana State University recruit Ajanae' Thomas, a 5-10 senior, averaged 12 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists. Rikki Harris (5-10), is one of the nation's top-ranked sophomores after averaging 12.6 points and 4.1 rebounds as a freshman. Junior Taylor Ramey (5-6), daughter of head coach DeeAnn Ramey, averaged 10.2 points, while 5-9 junior Ajah Stallings averaged 11.2 points and 3.6 rebounds.

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4. Zionsville
Head coach: Andy Maguire
2015-16 record: 20-4

The Eagles return plenty of experience, but a talented transfer has projected them into the state championship picture. The newcomer is 5-10 senior Rachel McLimore, who averaged 22 points, six rebounds and three assists for Covenant Christian (Indianapolis) and made last summer's Junior All-Star Team. Adding plenty of firepower are veterans Maddie Nolan, a 5-9 sophomore who averaged 12.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and led with 49 assists; 5-9 junior Erin Patterson, who averaged 10.4 points and 4.7 rebounds; 5-11 junior Katie Isenbarger, who averaged 7.8 points and 5.8 rebounds; 6-foot sophomore Delaney Richason, who averaged 7.4 points and 5.7 rebounds, and 5-6 sophomore Gabby Woodworth, who averaged 4.3 points and 3.0 rebounds.

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5. Columbus North
Head coach: Pat McKee
2015-16 record: 27-2

The Bulldogs, who have won a Class 4A state title and last year finished second, return three starters and have plenty of players to fill in since their JV team was unbeaten in 20 games and their freshmen were 16-3. Coach Pat McKee (145-18 in six years) will count heavily on 5-9 senior Maliah Howard-Bass, who averaged 18.6 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.8 steals and was a junior all-star; 6-4 senior Imani Guy, another junior all-star who averaged 9.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.2 blocks, and 5-6 senior Ashlyn Huffman, who averaged 9.3 points and 4.6 assists, another junior all-star who is recovering from a knee injury. Nadia Lomax, a 5-10 sophomore, was the top sub as a freshman.