'AIEA

Coach: Wyatt Tau.

Top players: Obie Woods (5-9, sr., guard); Josh Chung (5-9, sr., guard); James Buchanan (5-11, sr., point guard).

Notes: Na Ali'i have three returning starters from last season's OIA championship team. ... They have 18 players, including 13 seniors, on the roster and Tau expects to go 14 deep. ... Woods can play all five positions and is the go-to scorer. ... Chung is a pure shooter who has the green light from beyond the 3-point line. ... Buchanan is quick, can post up smaller guards and provides leadership.

Coach speak: "We play an uptempo style and we push a lot. We rarely play a half-court game even though other teams like to play us half-court."

'ANUENUE

Coach: Hanalei Fujimoto.

Top players: Aina Keli'i-Supnet (5-6, jr., guard); Keli'i Kon (5-9, sr., guard); Kekoa Sitarek (5-5, jr., guard); Ikaika Gante (5-6, fr., guard); Kamaki Sherman (5-9, sr., forward).

Notes: 'Anuenue is a first-year program. ... The team has nine players. ... Keli'i-Supnet is the primary ball-handler and an effective passer. He also plays tough defense. ... 'Anuenue will try to play uptempo because of a lack of size. ... The team practices at Palolo District Park, splitting time in the gym and on the outside courts.

Coach speak: "We're short so every fast break they get I'm going to keep running them. In practice I make them run a lot. I know they can handle it."

FARRINGTON

Coach: Allan Silva.

Top players: Jordan Ibana (5-7, sr., guard); Christian Hernandez (5-4, sr., guard): Oscar Carter (5-11, sr., forward); Stephen Kamano (5-10, sr., forward); Bryson Tatupu-Leopoldo (6-4, sr. center).

Notes: The Governors will use a 5-for-5 platoon system. After three strikes - any combination of bad passes, and allowed baseline drives and layups - the next five comes in. ... Hernandez has unlimited range and is one of the state's top shooters. He hit eight consecutive 3-pointers last season against Kaiser. ... The Governors will play uptempo, spread the floor and apply full-court pressure.

Coach speak: "I go 5-for-5 so the guys on the bench don't get complacent." Silva added the 3-strikes rule "is positive peer pressure."

KAISER

Coach: Shawn Nagata.

Top players: Kalua Noa (6-2, sr., forward); Brannon Wong (6-0, sr., guard/forward); Salele Aliifua (6-4, jr., center).

Notes: The Cougars have 15 players, but only five returnees. ... They also have a couple of 6-footers coming off the bench. ... Noa, the lone returning starter, brings athleticism, leadership, defense and rebounding. ... Wong is versatile and a solid defender. ... Aliifua will anchor the post defense. ... Landan Tamashiro and Jaymes Kawashima, a pair of 5-6 junior guards, will look to control the perimeter.

Coach speak: "We're going to look at possibly pounding the ball inside and getting out and running down the floor."

KALANI

Coach: Nathan Davis.

Top players: Jonathan Cheng (5-7, sr., guard); Troy Kashiwabara (6-0, sr., forward).

Notes: The Falcons have eight seniors and four juniors on their roster. ... Cheng is the lone returning starter. He can shoot, brings athleticism and is aggressive offensively. ... Kashiwabara has an inside-outside game and will be counted upon to rebound. ... The Falcons will look to push the ball to get open jump shots.

Coach speak: "We're playing a lot better basketball. We're working hard on defense. We'll have a defense-first attitude and the offense will take care of itself."

MCKINLEY

Coach: Bob Morikuni.

Top player: Earvin Sione (sr., 6-5, guard/forward).

Notes: The Tigers return four players from last season's Division II state championship team. ... Sione, the lone returning starter, is the team's best player. After playing in the low post the previous two seasons, he will play guard to create mismatches. ... The Tigers also have size in the Woodward twins: 6-4 Tavita and 6-3 Ionatana. ... The team will try to play inside-out.

Coach speak: "I'm sure people will be gunning for us, but it's a new season with new kids."

NANAKULI

Coach: Marco Johnson.

Top players: Arnold Kidder (5-10, sr., point guard); Marcus Albarico (6-0, sr., forward); Kalei Kea (6-1, sr., center).

Notes: The Golden Hawks have 15 players. ... Johnson is a first-year head coach. ... Kidder is quick, can handle the ball and is tough of defense. ... Albarico can score inside and outside. ... Kea is the primary post player.

Coach speak: "We'll try to be uptempo if we can."

THOMPSON

Coach: Rob Cacace.

Top players: C.J. Jones (6-4, fr., center); Justin Irvine (5-9, sr., forward); Ty Turner (5-9, jr., point guard).

Notes: Thompson, an on-line charter school, has nine or 10 players and five practice sites. ... Jones is from Kona, but staying with a teammate's family on O'ahu for the basketball season. He is a solid shot blocker. ... Irvine will play in the post and possesses a nice mid-range game. ... Turner is the primary ball-handler and distributor.

Coach speak: (on finding practice sites) "It's been hectic, man."

WAIALUA

Coach: Virg Basilio.

Top players: Matthew Manalo (5-7, sr., point guard); Cassidy Klinefelter (5-9, sr., guard); Marnick Dela Cruz (5-9, sr., guard); Vance Maluyo (5-9, fr., guard); Micah Hatchie (6-5, so., center).

Notes: The Bulldogs have 13 players, but only three returnees. Seven seniors are playing their first year of varsity basketball. ... Manalo is the primary scorer and ball-handler. He also provides leadership. ... Klinefelter is a good shooter. ... Dela Cruz is a solid leaper, who can rebound and score.

Coach speak: "We'll run when we can and control when we need to. We aren't really experience. We have young players."

WAIPAHU

Coach: Abe Villanueva.

Top players: Christian Babulla (5-10, sr., guard); Gordon Cox (5-8, sr., guard); Tyler Martin (5-3, sr., point guard).

Notes: The Marauders have 15 players and will go eight or nine deep. ... Babulla, a three-year varsity player, can shoot the 3 and slash to the bucket. ... Cox likely will guard the top scorer on other teams. He is a solid rebounder with a nice mid-range game.

Coach speak: "Traditionally we've been more of a half-court team. Hopefully, we can maintain that style. We don't have enough depth to run the floor and maintain it for four quarters."

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com.

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