MaxPreps 2016-2017 Louisiana preseason high school girls basketball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard

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1. University Lab (Baton Rouge)
Head coach: Bonita Anderson
2015-16 record: 27-9

The Cubs were sent packing after a loss in the Class 3A semifinals of the LHSAA tournament last season. Head coach Bonita Anderson will look to avenge the loss with talent all over the court. University Lab has one of the best athletes in the country in senior guard Kaila Anderson. The recent Tulane commit was a Louisiana all-state first team guard last season. Junior center Faith Kwentua will provide height and rebounding in the paint for the Cubs. It will essentially be up to the star point guard Anderson to take control and make a run for a state championship.

See the Louisiana girls basketball computer rankings presented by the Army National Guard

2. Mt. Carmel (New Orleans)
Head coach: Jamie Thomatis
2015-16 finish: 29-6 The team to beat in Louisiana girls basketball this season could be Mt. Carmel of New Orleans. Last season, the Cubs were the top team in the state for much of the year, and they proved it by winning the Class 5A title game over Denham Springs.

The reigning champions said goodbye to some key senior contributors, but they will welcome back the twin towers in the paint with junior forward Lauren Bodino (6-foot-1) and sophomore center Ellie Holzman (6-2). Together they will be a powerful tandem threat in the paint.

Mt. Carmel is the Class 5A champion of two of the past three seasons and is yet again the team to beat this upcoming season.

See the Louisiana girls basketball stat leaders

3. North Caddo (Vivian)
Head coach: Angela Chanell
2015-16 finish: 35-1

The epitome of Class 2A girls basketball in Louisiana has been the North Caddo Rebels for the past three years. The three-time consecutive champions have graduated some familiar faces and new head coach Angel Chanell will have high expectations to play up to.

Sophomore guard Destiny Rice, who ranked second on her team with 15.5 points per game, will lead a new era of Rebels basketball. Senior forwards Keyarrea Easter, Kiara Douglas, and Marvecia Grundy will be the Rebels' presence in the paint.

The Rebels may be in a new era, but they will be entering into it with plenty of talent to start a new one.

See the MaxPreps Louisiana girls basketball photos

4. Denham Springs
Head coach: Shelly Laprarie
2015-16 finish: 30-4

Speaking of Louisiana girls basketball powerhouses, Denham Springs cracks the Fab 5 list with high hopes to make it back to the title game after losing to Mt. Carmel last season. The Yellowjackets have had a roller coaster ride of success in recent years, but they have strong reason to believe they are in control of their own destiny.

Last year's squad was full of juniors, which means this year's will be extremely senior heavy. Among the plethora of seniors includes point guard Christina Canale and shooting guard Caroline Taylor.

Head coach Shelly Laprarie and her players have last season to learn and build on as they attempt to surge back to the state championship.

See the MaxPreps national girls basketball videos

5. Ursuline Academy (New Orleans)
Head coach: Andrea Williams
2015-16 finish: 29-6

The Ursuline Academy Lions shocked the world by winning the LHSAA Class 4A state championship as a No. 8 seed last year. Critics will be careful not to underestimate the Lions this year, as they aim to play through their stars to defend their championship trophy.

The Lions top three leading scorers all happened to be sophomores last season and all three will return for their junior years. Guard Kourtney Weber has interest from LSU, Florida State, Kansas, and many other division one programs after leading the Lions with 17.6 points per game last season. Right behind Weber will be junior guards Brooklyn Mitchell and Giordion Johnson. They were responsible for almost 75 percent of the Lions points last season.

Avoiding injuries may prove to be their biggest obstacle, but if the Lions can stay healthy, look for these girls to be a dominant force in Class 4A.