Since this thread started as OIA Top Teams...
Red West
1. Mililani. Enrollment is close to 2500 now, pretty sure you can find 15 quaility hoopers with those numbers. Looked very athletic during the summer, but like most Mililani teams in recent history, they'll find a way to screw it up. More interested in looking good than playing good if you know what I mean.
2. Campbell. Example one that coaching is so overated at times. Another new coach this season (Wyatt Tau from Aiea) and the Sabers will contend again. This will be the 5th change in 7 years, and they go to States every season dispite the turnover. Ewa has crazy Mo-Fo's out there, but they can hoop. But the craziness always catches up to them in the end.
3. Radford. The Rams have Mr Mean at the helm and he does a very good job with the limited talent he's had over the past two seasons. He's in his kid's grill during warm ups and never lets up. If games were determined by coach vs coach MMA then the Rams will win the title.
4. Leilehua. Tough couple of years for the Mules, haven't had a real good go to guy for awhile now. But they are always in games and have pulled a upset or two because of coaching and preperation for games. They're due to have a good year, this could be the one.
5. Kapolei. Word on the street is that it's getting tougher and tougher keeping kid's eligible over there. Then the transfer of the big kid to Punahou all equals a down year for the Huricane. Only thing in their favor is that the two teams behind them really blow.
6. Pearl City. Saw them twice during the summer and it was like getting your prostate checked. Not fun and very violating. It's become very clear that kid's in Peral City don't play hoops, too busy hanging at the Mall. Only thing in thier favor is that the team behind them really, really blows.
7. Waipahu. Get this, the largest enrollment in the OIA is...Waipahu!! Close to 3000 kids, problem is only 3 of them hoop. Need another 1 win season to solidifly a drop back down to Div II. This is why the OIA goes by wins not size, because teams like this just can't play.
Red East
1. Moanalua. With or without transfer players, this team moved to the top when Tautofi left for Vegas. Played a bunch of final possesion games last year against the top team only to fall short. Almost entire roster is back and if the players learned from those situations they could to be a factor in the state tournament.
2. Kahuku. As always, will have the athletic bigs to compete, if guard play is average then they'll struggle against good teams, if guard play is great then like Moanalua, they'll be factors in the state tournament as well. Football always plays a big role with the development of the team, might take them time to get it together.
3. Kaimuki. Loss of Tautofi is huge but they still have some good guys. In fact others will now be able to get involved since he's gone. But with him they are a top 5 team state wide, without him they drop out the top 10. If they make the tournament without the Beast then all of this coach talk should be put to bed.
4. Farrington. Capable of big upsets and capable of getting butts kicked. Tough kids with average hoop skills but they play hard. Always a threat at home because that gym is a hard place to play in. From the slipper lady to the resturant lighting, home court advantage looms large for the Govs.
5. Kalaheo. Is the end of a era? They have been in over 20 consecitive state tournaments and that streak may finally come to an end this year. No bigs, no depth, one good player and way to young. The staff has to really coach up this year to get this team going. But if anyone can do it, Chico and his guys can.
6. Kaiser. Not nearly as bad as the lower teams in the West. Compete hard and can knock down a shot here and there. If they were in the West they would contend, not in the East.
7. McKinnley. If they couldn't win games last year with the talent they had, there is no way in hell they will this year. If they persist in sitting in a do nothing 2-3 zone every freakin game and do the same offensive set over and over again then it's going to be a very long year for the Tigers.
