Capital Prep is seeking another state title this season.
Photo by Mike Braca
2015-16 Connecticut Preseason Girls Basketball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard
1. Capital Prep (Hartford)Head coach: Tammy Millsaps
2014-15 record: 25-1
The Trailblazers haven't lost a state game for three seasons, and the defending CIAC Class L champions are ready to make that four seasons. Senior guard-forward
Desiree Elmore is a handful inside (23.5 points per game, 14.5 rebounds per game, 5 assists per game) and junior guard
Angelique Rodriguez averaged 11.8 ppg last season. Point guard junior
Lizaya Morgan (5 apg) is the third returning starter. The non-conference schedule is as ambitious as ever, headlined by Oregon City (the No. 1 team in the Oregon Fab 5), and a home-and-home against Christ the King, the top-ranked team in the New York Fab 5.
See last season's Connecticut girls basketball computer rankings2. Warde (Fairfield)Head coach: Dave Danko
2014-15 record: 21-4
There's a lot of uncertainty about this season, as many traditional powers were hit hard by graduation. Warde is a very big exception. It returns its entire starting lineup that took the team to the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference final and the Class LL quarterfinals. Senior point guard
Lejla Markovic was first-team all-FCIAC last season, junior
Iliana Krasniqi (forward) was second team and senior
Sarah Cotto (guard) and junior
Shania Osborne (center) both made the third team. Osborne has also gotten interest from Division I schools Fairfield, Sacred Heart and St. Peter's.
See Connecticut girls basketball pro photo galleries3. RidgefieldHead coach: Tom Dimarzo
2014-15 record: 21-4
The Tigers took the FCIAC by surprise last season and won their first league championship since 1996. Everyone will be fired up to play Ridgefield this year, and its strong enough to handle it, as it returns most of the starting lineup. Seniors
Rebecca Lawrence (power forward) and
Jess Camarda (guard) were FCIAC first and second team picks, respectively. Juniors
Elizabeth Middlebrook (post) and
Julia Middlebrook (guard) are both very athletic — Elizabeth was one of the top hitters on the volleyball team, while Julia was the goaltender for the soccer team and was the FCIAC title game MVP. Ridgefield only made it as far as the LL second round last season as it lost to league rival Greenwich (60-55). The Tigers should go farther this season.
See last season's Connecticut girls basketball playoff brackets4. Holy Cross (Waterbury)Head coach: Frank Lombardo
2014-15 record: 23-3
The Crusaders have gone 40-1 in the Naugatuck Valley League the last two seasons, with the loss happening in last year's tournament final. Holy Cross should be the top team of the NVL again this winter and a Class M contender. Senior point guard
Rashana Siders returns and will again be Holy Cross' top player. It's blessed with good size inside with 6-foot seniors
Caitlin Cipriano (center) and
Katie Grimshaw (forward). The Crusaders will also benefit from the addition of transfer
Idalis Miranda (guard), who scored 885 points in three seasons at nearby Chase Collegiate.
See last season's Connecticut girls basketball stat leaders5. ThomastonHead coach: Bob McMahon
2014-15 record: 23-3
You win two consecutive state titles, then you make this list. The Bears played in their third-straight Class S final last season, and every one of the eight who got in the game were either a junior or sophomore.