2015-16 Hawaii Preseason Girls Basketball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard
1. Konawaena (Kealakekua)
Head coach: Bobbie Awa
2014-15 record: 31-1
The Wildcats lost only three seniors off last year's team that finished No. 17 in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Girls Basketball Rankings presented by the Army National Guard. That team's only loss was to California state Open Division champion St. Mary's (Stockton), 68-59. The Wildcats beat Lahainaluna 51-41 in the state Division I title game when then-junior guard
Chanelle Molina scored 27 points. Awa became the state tournament's winningest coach with six titles. Junior
Victoria Victor, who had 14 points in the title game, also returns, as does Molina's sisters
Celena Molina and
Cherilyn Molina.
See last season's Hawaii girls basketball computer rankings2. Lahainaluna (Lahaina)
Head coach: Todd Rickard
2014-15 record: 17-2
The Lunas' only two losses were to Konawaena, and with the return of nine of 10 players from last year's roster, they should contend again. Among the top returners are
Fe-ko Fiemea,
Keieah-aiko Koloi,
Matafolau Hafoka and
Cameron Fernandez.
See Hawaii girls basketball pro photo galleries
3. Roosevelt (Honolulu)
Head coach: Hinano Higa
2014-15 record: 16-4
The Rough Riders should return seven players from a team that lost in the state Division I semifinals to Lahainaluna last season.
Keala Quinlan, a 6-foot senior forward, and
Kaonohi Quinlan, a 5-7 sophomore, lead Roosevelt, which won a state Division II title in 2005.
See last season's Hawaii girls basketball playoff brackets
4. Kamehameha Hawai'i (Kea'au)
Head coach: Garrett Arima
2014-15 record: 17-9
The Warriors return nine players — including six sophomores — from a team that reached the state Division II semifinals, losing to Hawaii Baptist Academy 53-40. The Warriors have won two of their four state titles under Arima in 2012 and 2013. The team also won state crowns in 2006 and 2008. They've gone a combined 93-37 since 2011-12. The team's lone seniors this season are
Kyla Aguiar and
Hera Salmeron.
See last season's national girls basketball stat leaders5. Hilo
Head coach: Ben Pana
2014-15 record: 12-7
The Vikings return nine of 12 players from last year's squad that lost in the state Division I quarterfinals, 70-66 to Maryknoll. The top Hilo players include
Alexis Pana and
Cierra Kelii.