Kalaheo is our pick as the state's top team this season. But keep an eye out for Kamehameha, Kamehameha Hawai'i, Kapolei and Punahou.
MaxPreps 2012-13 Hawaii Boys Basketball Preseason Fab 5 presented by the Army National Guard
1. Kalaheo (Kailua)Head coach: Alika Smith
2011-12 finish: 26-4, Division II state champions
The returning state champs from the smaller division played great against Division I teams last season and bring back a lot of talent, meaning they are tops overall in the state. They are rumored to be moving up to D-I this season.
Josh Ko returns after being named the Division II state tournament's Most Valuable Player,
Nainoa Frank (6-6) is a Junior Olympic volleyball player and was second-team All-League, defensive stalwart
Derick Morgan is 6-1 and senior
Shem Sukumaran brings a 6-3 frame. Smith was named Coach of the Year in the Oahu East Conference as well. Two of the team's three losses to Hawaii teams last season came to Kahuku, the Division I runners-up.
View the MaxPreps Preseason Xcellent 25 National Boys Basketball Rankings2. Kamehameha (Honolulu)Head coach: Julian Nakanishi
2011-12 finish: 23-10, lost in first round of Division I playoffs
Makoa Camanse-stevens is back after a second-team All-Interscholastic I award, and his team can look to the positive of winning six of its last seven regular-season games despite an early playoff exit. Last season's roster featured five juniors and a sophomore, so there is some experience coming back. Replacing co-league MVP Dyrbe Enos will be the top task for this group of Warriors as they do battle in Honolulu's toughest league.
View last season's Hawaii boys basketball stats leaderboard3. Kamehameha Hawai'i (Kea'au)Head coach: Dominic Pacheco
2011-12 finish: 19-7, fourth in Division I
The Warriors return the Big Island East Player of the Year in senior
Shaun Kagawa, and they have three juniors who were on the roster last season as part of a solid campaign. But they also will need to replace two graduated seniors who earned honorable mention All-League accolades. This team rolled off nine consecutive victories after Jan. 1 and won a game in the state playoffs, so there should be another late-season run in this season's edition.
View last season's Hawaii boys basketball playoff brackets4. KapoleiHead coach: Gary Ellison
2011-12 finish: 21-5, lost in first round of Division I playoffs
Ellison was the Coach of the Year last season in the Oahu West Conference, and despite an earlier-than-expected playoff exit, there is plenty of optimism after graduating only three seniors. Oh, and they bring back three-fifths of the All-League team. Seniors
Christopher Dillard (6-4 forward),
Zachery Reeves (6-3 forward) and
Joshua Wills (6-foot forward) were all first-team All-League selections last season, and at one point the team went on a 17-game win streak.
View last season's Hawaii boys basketball Freeman Rankings5. Punahou (Honolulu)Head coach: Darren Matsuda
2011-12 finish: 28-2, Division I state champions
Co-League MVP DeForest Buckner and his 6-8, 240 frame have moved on, along with first-team All-Leaguer Malik Johnson. But Matsuda is the reigning Coach of the Year and senior
Nicholas Velasquez is an All-League performer. This year's Punahou team is the defending state champs and they only lost one game to a Hawaii team last season. A roster with lots of players last season means that there is enough experience returning to make another postseason run.
