He doesn't need reminders of the past to get the juices flowing.

  Chico Furtado is in a constant state of analysis, his mind in perpetual motion on and off the court. Except, of course, when he's with his grandson.

As a toddler, it was a game of bounce passes with Grandpa. Now, just a few years later, it's the guy with a graying beard chauffeuring grandson to practice.

It's in not just Furtado's blood, but that of all basketball coaches at Kalaheo. Championship banners are a fixture above Pete Smith Court, which is named for the longtime coach who died in 2006. Going back to the first Oahu Interscholastic Association title in 1976 under Merv Lopes, the Mustangs have won 16 league crowns - 14 with Smith at the helm.

Furtado was Smith's right-hand man for many of those campaigns, and another OIA title seemed imminent last season. Kalaheo had a 13-0 start, but lost to Moanalua in the semifinals and finished fourth. The Mustangs lost in the state quarterfinals to Kamehameha-Hawaii and wound up 23-8 overall (14-1 OIA Red) - a tough close to what had been a promising year.

The Mustangs have talent and experience returning this season, enough to convince coaches and media. They voted Kalaheo to a No. 4 ranking in the Star-Bulletin Boys Basketball Preseason Top 10, much to Furtado's surprise.

“;Probably if we were seventh or eighth, I could live with that,”; said Furtado, who didn't participate in the voting. “;Fourth is a little bit high. Traditionally, our program has been very competitive over the last 20 years. That might give us bonus points.”;

On paper: High-scoring Cheynne Lishman graduated, but the Mustangs are 4-1 so far in nonconference play. Sharpshooting Aaron Fernandez grew an inch to 6-foot-3.

“;He'll kind of carry the load for us, take the place of Cheynne. He's shooting the ball well and starting to create dribble penetration and some mid-range opportunities,”; Furtado said.

Richard Preza Haynes runs the offense.

“;He plays with intensity. He's very quick and has the potential to score,”; said Furtado of Preza Haynes, who drilled three 3-pointers against Kamehameha in a nonconference contest. “;He's gotta slow himself down a little bit.”;

Furtado rotates Matt Gasparine, Christian Kepa and Carlos Craig in the front court. They're all in the 6-1 to 6-2 range but offer different skills. Gasparine is a banger who got bigger and stronger in the off-season. Kepa, a setter in volleyball, can step out and hit the 3-pointer. Craig is especially agile.

Newcomer Kona Makaula, a 5-10 sophomore, adds a 3-point shooter to the lineup.

The skinny: Fernandez, with his long frame, could develop into a defensive force, Furtado added.

The Mustangs are in transition, not just because of Lishman's departure. In all, four starters, including point guard Taylor Jay, graduated. Another key player, versatile Shawn Hipa, is injured.

“;We're hoping to be healthy, but against Saint Louis, we only played six guys in the second half. Some of our guys got fatigued,”; Furtado said of the loss to the Crusaders at Punahou's tournament.

Furtado is carefully turning up the heat as some inexperienced players see more playing time.

“;We're bringing guys along. We've got to play smart and play to our strengths,”; he said.

X factor: Furtado would like to see his team hit more free throws.

“;The free-throw line has been our nemesis in preseason. Every game, we've shot under 60 percent,”; he said.