RED EAST

CASTLE

Coach: Rocky Fraticelli

Key players: Nick Tuamoheloa (5-9, jr., guard), Layne Kihara (5-8, sr., guard/forward), Vernon Mitchell (6-2, sr., forward), Malani Lum (5-10, sr., forward).

Notes: The Knights are senior-laden team with six seniors and seven returnees ... Turnovers have hurt Castle in the preseason, averaging 19 per game ... Castle defeated 'Iolani II, 46-41, on Friday at the Na Menehune/Reebok Holiday Classic to improve its preseason record to 5-6 ... Fraticelli believes his team is one of the smallest in the league.

The coach says: "Basic fundamentals — being able to make layups and free throws. If we do those two in close ball games, it could go either way."

KAHUKU

Coach: Nathan James

Key players: Jray Galeai (6-0, jr., guard), Willie Ching (6-5, sr., forward), Irwin Ah-Hoy (6-0, jr., guard/forward).

Notes: Ching is a versatile player who can step away from the basket and shoot and play both inside and on the perimeter ... Red Raiders edged Kailua, 46-43, on Friday in the Merv Lopes Holiday Classic ... Six returnees on the roster.

The coach says: "Being disciplined, executing and playing good defense will lead to great opportunities."

KAILUA

Coach: Tim Harrison

Key players: Billy Oden (5-10, sr., guard), Bubu Naki (5-10, sr., guard), Kenny Ellis (6-4, jr., center).

Notes: A tough preseason schedule and players out with injuries and on vacation have made it difficult on the Surfriders, a team that's a work in progress and trying to find an identity ... Kailua has two starters back from last year ... Harrison, last year's OIA Red East co-Coach of the Year with Moanalua's Greg Tacon, said his team has been doing OK on defense, but needs more offensively.

The coach says: "We're hoping to get it together by the start of the season. We did have a tough schedule in the preseason by design."

KAIMUKI

Coach: Kelly Grant

Key players: Desmond Tautofi (6-2, so., center), David Taulang (5-8, jr., guard), Ryan Takitani (5-9, jr., guard)

Notes: The Bulldogs had a late start with some players joining from the Kaimuki football team that advanced to the state tournament ... Only three players are back from last year's team ... Grant hopes his team can be competitive, make the playoffs and ride some of the postseason success they have had the last two years.

The coach says: "It will be pressure if we had a lot of the kids returning. Since we have whole new bunch, they're wide-eyed right now. Right now, they're concentrating and focusing on how to run our system."

KALAHEO

Coach: Chico Furtado

Key players: Cheynne Lishman (6-1, sr., guard), Taylor Jay (5-7, sr., guard), DJ Chang (6-1, sr., post), Alika Ka'anapu (6-4 sr., post), Christian Kepa (6-3, jr., post).

Notes: Lishman is the only starter back from last year's state third-place team and will be the cornerstone of this year's team, though opponents will key in on him ... The Mustangs' depth could make a difference this season ... Kalaheo, 9-4 through Friday, has had a tough preseason schedule with losses to two tough Mainland teams, Mid-Pacific and Saint Louis and key wins over Kamehameha and Kamehameha-Hawai'i, a rematch of last year's state third-place game.

The coach says: "A lot of the things we anticipated are coming to fruition with the loss of four starters. You can't lose them and skip a beat. We're just hoping through the course of the season, the toughness of the preseason will really prepares us."

MOANALUA

Coach: Greg Tacon

Key players: Stevie Austin (guard), Josh Kure (guard), Ryan Hua (forward).

Notes: Point guard Austin is one of the quickest in the state. He led the team in scoring, assists and steals last year en route to Advertiser All-State second-team honors. Austin was the only non-senior on last year's first and second teams ... Kure is a streaky long-range shooter ... Hua is steady and can score from inside and the perimeter ... Returning in the post are senior AJ Kirkman, senior Shawn Richey and junior Maurice Allen ... Sophomore newcomer Marcus Monroe has been the team's second-leading scorer in the preseason.

The coach says: "The team has consistently shown steady improvement so far this season on the defensive end of the floor, and will be a better rebounding team with Monroe and Allen in the starting rotation. Because of Austin, we'll be at our best when the game is played fast with Austin at the helm in the open court."

ROOSEVELT

Coach: Clint Chikamori

Key players: Jason Nutter (5-10, jr., guard), Lowen Kaho'oilihala jr 5-9), Matthew Kualii-Moe (6-0, jr., guard).

Notes: The Rough Riders are starting to come together after a rough preseason ... Nutter, Kaho'oilihala and Kualii-Moe bring athleticism and game savvy ... Being able to handle defensive pressure and making stop in key situations will be key ... Chikamori is in his first year after John Chung stepped down following 22 seasons to lead the school's athletic department.

The coach says: "It's big shoes to fill. (John's) been around for a while. It's a new challenge for me. I worked with these kids at the JV but it's a whole new experience at the varsity. I hope to carry on the tradition of what John brought to the school."

RED WEST

CAMPBELL

Coach: Glenn Flores

Key players: Michael Makinano (5-11, sr., guard), Joseph Atimua (6-0, sr., guard/forward), Terence Tafai (6-2, sr., center), Patrick Ward (6-4, jr., forward/center).

Notes: The Sabers, who play an uptempo game, went 10-5 in the preseason. Campbell beat Carlmount of California to open the Na Menehune/Reebok Holiday Classic on Wednesday before dropping its final three games ... Makinano has improved as an all-around player and Flores said opponents will be surprised at Makinano's game.

The coach says: "We don't have depth. If we get in foul trouble, that's when we get in trouble. If we stay out of that, we'll be very competitive."

KAPOLEI

Coach: Gary Ellison

Key players: D'Shaun Dubois (6-0, sr., guard), Nathaniel Dixon (5-10, sr., guard), Jordan Ferreira (6-0, jr., forward), Mason Koa (6-2, sr., forward), Lawrence Olive (6-5, center).

Notes: The Hurricanes return four starters from last season's squad and that level of experience will be vital ... Dixon and Koa joined the team late after participating in the Hawai'i Union Builders Goodwill Senior Bowl football game.

The coach says: "The chemistry is coming together. It'll be there by the time we start the season. We're doing better than last year, so there's a lot of promise, a lot of speed and bench players."

LEILEHUA

Coach: Keith Spencer

Key players: Art Laurel (6-2. sr., forward), Kolwin Dixon (6-2, sr., forward), Hoku Kama (5-10, jr., guard).

Notes: The team has had just three weeks of practice together after seven of them joined late from playing on the Mules' state championship football team. Sophomore quarterback Andrew Manley, who guided the Mules to the state championship, is on the basketball team ... Before the season started, the team was able to bond with each other at a Las Vegas tournament.

The coach says: "We're making some progress and trying to catch up. We had our full third week with each other. We had a good win against Damien (on Thursday in the Merv Lopes Holiday Classic) and we pulled away in the fourth quarter."

MILILANI

Coach: Hiram Akina

Key players: Curtis Murakami (5-4, sr., guard), Scott Burns (6-3, sr., guard/forward), Warren Duke (6-3, sr., center), Aaron Lenchanko (5-11, sr., guard/forward), Jonathan Keen (6-4, sr., forward), Reid Pangelinan (6-5, jr., center).

Notes: The Trojans have mixed up their lineup during the preseason to see different combinations ... Senior Cody Kilthau is physical, quick and brings excitement off the bench. He'll be looked upon to provide a defensive and offensive push for the team ... Coach Akina's son, Nehoa, is a sophomore who starts at off guard ... Coach Akina said Murakami is "like a dynamite. He let's everything out and plays 100 percent."

The coach says: "We're big and athletic and that really gives us a good look at the talent and skill level that some of these kids have. They have to put it together and use their skills. Once they do that, we can be pretty good."

PEARL CITY

Coach: Lionel Villarmia

Key players: Karlo Rarangol (6-2, sr., post), Kawika Borden (6-0, sr., post), Troy Antoque (5-8, sr., guard), Antoin Dewalt (6-0, sr., guard), Allen Agni (5-5, sr., guard).

Notes: The Chargers have an experienced lineup and hope to play a pressure defense in both the full and half court. Offensively, the Chargers will look to push the ball.

The coach says: "We are not very big so we will play pressure defense and control the offensive tempo. We are looking for consistency. Right now we're like a light switch, it's either off or on."

RADFORD

Coach: Wayne Keys

Key players: Quentin Kimura (5-8, jr., guard), Jared Victorino (5-9, jr., guard), Brad Osbourne (6-3, jr., center), Derrell Lee (6-0, jr., guard/forward), Shawn Putman-Curry (6-0, jr., forward).

Notes: The Rams have struggled during the preseason, but have started coming together in the past few games ... The team is young and Keys said the team has to stick together and trust each other.

The coach says: "We started our giving back program with Makalapa Elementary School. That helped our ball team out a lot, understanding what coaches go through and helping the community. That's going to help us overcome a lot and help us grow as a team and family."

WAI'ANAE

Coach: John Simbahon

Key players: Jarred Burns (6-3, sr., guard), Jamerson Smith (6-1, so., forward), Bryson Kekahuna (5-11, sr., guard).

Notes: The Seariders are a young team with just three returnees, two players who moved up from junior varsity and players relatively new to organized basketball ... Burns can bring the ball up the court and post up in the paint.

The coach says: "Once they come around and learn the system, we'll be all right. Every game is a learning experience. If we can come around, if we can get these guys to understand the game of basketball, we'll be all right."

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