Way Too Early October Team Rankings 5A

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5A is loaded like always, and the two 6A teams that dropped into 5A this re-classification are already making a statement by being at the top of the pre-season rankings. The crazy thing about the rankings is that every team in the Top 5 right now has a D1 prospect on its team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#1 Pleasant Grove </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pleasant Grove will have 7 new faces suiting up this coming year, but the player they are bringing back will be huge for them, and that is [player_tooltip player_id='796796' first='Tabitha' last='Clark']. She can play multiple positions, and her scoring ability is a lot sharper this year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Returning Players</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='796796' first='Tabitha' last='Clark'] || 6'2 SF || 2026 ||</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='879706' first='Cash' last='Connors'] || 6'0 F || 2026 ||</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ma'ele Tuiasoa || 5'8 F || 2026 ||</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>New Comers</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='873276' first='Sutton' last='Villa'] || 6'6 C || 2028 ||</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='873279' first='Siri' last='Burgess'] || 6'1 W || 2028 ||</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Janice Sikander || 5'3 PG || 2027 ||</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='875195' first='Aaliyah' last='Sikander'] || 5'2 PG || 2028 ||</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='832982' first='Reagan' last='Lambourne'] || 6'2 PF/C || 2027 ||</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1049025' first='Amaiya' last='Kennerly'] || 5'7 PG || 2029 ||</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='796473' first='Zuri' last='Nordstrom'] || 5'7 CG || 2027 ||</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Vikings are not only strong with the five starters they will put on the floor, but they also have depth. Last season, they won only 9 games, and you can expect them to surpass that number by the time they reach region play. They will be anchored by two players who have length in Clark and Villa. Clark will be able to play all over the floor, and Villa is somewhat of an eraser in the paint. Villa's ability to block shots makes her a very valuable asset on the floor. Then you add immediate offense with Nordstrom. I think we will see a new side of Burgess this season as a more polished scorer. Janice Sikander, as one of the true PGs in the state, will have an arsenal at her disposal. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#2 Fremont</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fremont brings back size, but not as much as they have had in the past. The player that they will depend on will be [player_tooltip player_id='796472' first='Abigail' last='Christensen']. Christensen can score at all three levels, and she is a grab-and-go player off of rebounds, running the floor, and she is dangerous enough to take it all the way or pull up and hit a jumper. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Returning Players</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='796472' first='Abigail' last='Christensen'] || 6'2 W || 2027 ||</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1274979' first='Mia' last='McArthur'] || 5'7 G || 2026 ||</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='827419' first='Olivia' last='Surrage'] || 6'0 F || 2027 ||</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='985882' first='Lily' last='Hall'] || 6'1 F || 2026 ||</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='796481' first='Daphnie' last='Moyes'] || 5'7 G || 2028 ||</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This team is very seasoned, and they have an uptempo type of team that could light up the scoreboard. Christensen will lead the team, and she is likely to average 17 PPG+, and do not be surprised if she lights the scoreboard up with a 30 piece. [player_tooltip player_id='827419' first='Olivia' last='Surrage'] is a much more skilled player than she was last season; she has athleticism and is shooting the ball much better. Fremont does have some guards that you have to defend, and that just opens up the floor for some one-on-ones in the post, which could be trouble for most teams. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#3 West</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West could easily make its way up a spot or two, but we have them at #3 at the start of October, but that could change. They will be playing in the Great Western Classic, and we could see them at full strength. Kayle Falatea is the real deal, and she will be playing her collegiate ball in Oregon. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Returning Players</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kaylee Falatea || 5'9 CG || 2026 ||</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tina Fa || 6'0 F || 2026 ||</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='796805' first='Laite' last='Latu'] || 6'4 C || 2026 ||</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='796811' first='Tia' last='Pan'] || 5'8 CG || 2026 ||</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>New Comers</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Elysia Gallardo || 5'7 CG || 2026 ||</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='875194' first='Sinoveti' last='Uhatafe'] || 5'10 F || 2028 ||</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Expect a lot of pressure and an up-and-down game as Falatea is ready to put her head down and go to work. Falatea could lead the state in scoring when you pair her scoring ability and the style of play that they will be playing. Tina Fa is a solid player, and I think we will see more from Latu this coming season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#4 Bountiful</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bountiful is somewhat of a team lying in the weeds, ready to pounce, but with a player like [player_tooltip player_id='796795' first='Milika' last='Satuala'], they are not going to sneak up on anyone. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Returning Players</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='827404' first='Maleah' last='Nelson'] || 5'7 PG || 2027 ||</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='796795' first='Milika' last='Satuala'] || 5'10 CG || 2026 ||</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Adelaide Stephenson || 6'2 F || 2026 ||</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bountiful will be good, and Milika will have a chance to show why she has signed with Utah, as her skill set as a CG is off the charts, with her ability to run the 1 and also get in the post and do work. Very excited to see her do her thing. Nelson is a player who has been getting better and is scoring very well from all over, especially beyond the arc. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#5 Wasatch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wasatch is a legit contender, and they have a really good player to lean on who has experience and a lot of potential to be one of those unstoppable players out on the floor. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Returning Players</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='796470' first='Mahala' last='Speardon'] || 6'3 PF/C || 2027 ||</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='789054' first='Danielle' last='Garner'] || 6'0 F || 2026 ||</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kate Miller || 5'6 G || 2026 ||</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Anna Greenwell || 5'10 SF || 2026 ||</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Outlook</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Watching Wasatch play a few times, they have some players that get up and down the floor, but a lot of the offense starts with Speardon as she gets good touches, and she is relentless inside. I think everyone will see a new side of Mahala that we haven't seen before. You will also see a heavy dose of Garner, a player who has also elevated her game, especially offensively. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->