After 32 years of coaching, Bobby Samson still gets excited about basketball.
This year, he's seen departures and incoming talent, leaving and arriving. He shrugs and moves on, and what he sees in the rugged Red West of the Oahu Interscholastic Association is parity.
Samson sees his Campbell Sabers as a dark horse, if that, and if there's a favorite, he leans toward the red and black.
"It's a tough call because I've seen Radford play. I've seen Mililani play. I have film on Leilehua and they're all tough. Kapolei always has athletic players," he said.
Radford gets the early nod, though, because of 6-foot-3 guard Gary Satterwhite. "Satterwhite, he's the returning player of the year. They've gotta be the favorite," he said.
Aiea Na Alii
Coach: Amosa Amosa
On paper: Na Alii aren't big, but they are certainly quick. Josh Chung has been a deadly 3-point shooter, and they feature a lineup of five guards. They went 8-3 in nonconference games.
Amosa has always preferred an up-tempo style of play, and with Obie Woods, James Buchanan, Lofa Liilii and a number of speedsters, Aiea will certainly entertain. Alan Fonoti, a 6-1 senior, and David Sevaaetasi patrol the paint.
They've lost to Campbell (64-61), but beaten Kapolei (50-38) and Leilehua (58-49) with their small lineup. Aiea also has wins over Kahuku and Kailua
X factor: Keenan Naeole, a quarterback on the football team, and volleyball standout Pili Taitin, could be pivotal for Aiea.
The skinny: Patience. If Aiea can take leads into the fourth quarter, taller teams may have problems keeping up when Na Alii decide to eat the clock. The ability of Aiea's guards to call off the run-and-gun game and secure wins will be key in the evened-out West.
Campbell Sabers
Coach: Bobby Samson
On paper: As a teacher on campus, Samson knows what fuels his players. The Sabers went 7-7 in a fairly tough nonconference schedule, and the upside is quite nice.
Mike Makinano returned to Campbell late last season and sparked a nice run by the Sabers in the playoffs. That run extended to the state tourney, where the Sabers upset Saint Louis. This year, Makinano, Jayden Delizo, Michael McDonald and Terrence Tafai are the experienced leaders.
"Makinano is just a natural player who can be very explosive. I think he's right up there with the best in the West. He's growing, too, as a player. He understands his role, but tries to get other people involved in the offense," Samson said.
The skinny: "We're finding our identity with more combinations. We have more of an inside presence this year. If we can hang on to the ball a little more, we have the potential to be more competitive," Samson said.
Campbell lost Tristan Sealy, who transferred to Thompson, but gained Patrick Ward and Rashad Battle, a pair of 6-foot-2 players. Joseph Atimua is also a low-post contributor.
X factor: Samson likes up-tempo ball, but it won't work unless things change.
"We're trying to hold onto the ball because we really don't have a point guard. That's where we're hurting. Ryan Hayes, everybody thought his value to us was scoring," he said of the former Saber point guard. "But his real value was taking care of the ball."
Kapolei Hurricanes
Coach: Gary Ellison
On paper: The 'Canes have made significant strides since their early outings at McKinley's Black and Gold Tournament. Now 4-5 in nonconference play, Ellison's patience is beginning to pay off. Juniors Nathaniel Dixon (5-10) and DeShaun Dubois (6-0) anchor a relatively young squad. Kapolei has won its last three games (Kapaa, Nanakuli and Hanalani).
The skinny: Ellison has preached one of life's essential virtues.
"Patience. We need patience, and we need to protect and control the ball. We play a lot better when we control the game," he said. "We're still young and a lot of the guys haven't played together a lot yet."
X factor: Mason Koa. "He's still raw, but he's getting better and better," Ellison said of the 6-2 quarterback. "He never played basketball before. It's amazing how much he's improved in a month."
Leilehua Mules
Coach: Keith Spencer
On paper: The Mules have had some bumpy rides along the way in December, but all of Spencer's cajoling and instruction are beginning to pay off. After a month of struggle, the Mules look like a serious contender in the West.
The skinny: Leilehua doesn't lack size or athleticism, but ballhandling is a key issue. That problem appears to be clearing up, especially since Spencer was an All-State guard back in the day at Iolani.
X factor: Viliami Haunga. The 6-4, 235-pound senior will return from an arm injury before the regular season ends.
Mililani Trojans
Coach: Hiram Akina
On paper: The Trojans continue to march along and win more often than not.
Nick Kanno has been steady from the perimeter, and Akina goes deep into his bench searching for the right combination.
The skinny: Depth isn't a problem, but finding a mix of scorers and defenders is easier said than done.
X factor: Returnees like Brandon Dela Cruz, Jordan Torres and Donovan Olmos have their strengths, but Thompson transfer Jonathan Keen (6-3) has a multitude of skills that can separate the Trojans from the pack.
Pearl City Chargers
Coach: Lionel Villarmia
On paper: The Chargers will need sage wisdom from Villarmia. Injuries have hampered them early on, particularly to their frontcourt.
The skinny: Troy Antoque, Antoin DeWalt and Ryne Calbero have been key contributors. Antoque scored 22 in a win over Maui at the St. Anthony's Invitational.
X factor: Getting their big posts back will be a nice plus.
Radford Rams
Coach: Kai Enos
On paper: The Rams (6-5) return last year's OIA West player of the year, Gary Satterwhite, but he is surrounded by more experience and depth now. Justin Lord is a jack of all trades at small forward, and 6-5 Antonio Daniels has improved dramatically. Matthew Hoover gives Radford a formidable 3-point shooter.
The skinny: If they find enough offense -- last year's Achilles' heel -- this truly will be the Rams' title for the taking.
X factor: So'oso'o Taulelei, a 6-4 senior, is a capable ballhandler who is at the point when the Rams face full-court pressure. He is also tough on the post, which gives Enos more options.