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Zama's Joshua Atkinson and Hikai Nakamura battle for the ball in practice.

Zama's Joshua Atkinson and Hikai Nakamura battle for the ball in practice. (William Takahashi/Special to Stars and Stripes)

Zama's Joshua Atkinson and Hikai Nakamura battle for the ball in practice.

Zama's Joshua Atkinson and Hikai Nakamura battle for the ball in practice. (William Takahashi/Special to Stars and Stripes)

Zama's Joseph Atkinson shoots against teammate Alex Jones in practice.

Zama's Joseph Atkinson shoots against teammate Alex Jones in practice. (William Takahashi/Special to Stars and Stripes)

Kadena senior shooting guard Jaret Colon.

Kadena senior shooting guard Jaret Colon. (Marie Obsuna/Special to Stars and Stripes)

Kadena senior guard Kortez Hixon.

Kadena senior guard Kortez Hixon. (Marie Obsuna/Special to Stars and Stripes)

Kadena's Michael Gonzalez looks for room to maneuver between Jaret Colon, Jeremiah Steed and Boysie Gordon during Panthers practice Monday.

Kadena's Michael Gonzalez looks for room to maneuver between Jaret Colon, Jeremiah Steed and Boysie Gordon during Panthers practice Monday. (Marie Obsuna/Special to Stars and Stripes)

Kadena's Kortez Hixon drives to the hoop against teammate John McBain.

Kadena's Kortez Hixon drives to the hoop against teammate John McBain. (Marie Obsuna/Special to Stars and Stripes)

Kadena's Michael Gonzalez, Troy Bernal, Jeremiah Steed and John McBain battle for a rebound during Panthers practice Monday.

Kadena's Michael Gonzalez, Troy Bernal, Jeremiah Steed and John McBain battle for a rebound during Panthers practice Monday. (Marie Obsuna/Special to Stars and Stripes)

Division I

South KoreaSeoul American Falcons 2013-14 season record — 17-4 overall, 13th at Far East D-I.Head coach — James Davis, first season (previously assisted Steve Boyd).Key performers — Max Weekley, Jr., SF; Xavier McDaniel, Jr., C; Shawn Horne, Sr., F; DeAndre Metcalf, So., F; Myles Haynes, Jr., G; A.J. Batts, Sr., G; Jez Harper, Jr., G.Outlook — Reloading-contending. Have to overcome the loss of guard Dion Johnson, and a new head coach is on board for the first time since 2001-02. Height has always been a strong suit, but the Falcons are as deep at guard as they ever have been. The only possible missing ingredient may be at small forward.

OkinawaKadena Panthers 2013-14 season record — 21-12 overall, third at Far East D-I.Head coach — Gerald Johnson, fourth season.Key performers — Boysie Gordon, Sr., C; Jamario Harris, Jr., PG; Justin Wilson, So., F; Kortez Hixon, Sr., G; Isaiah Richardson, Jr., G-F; Jaret Colon, Sr., SG. Outlook — Rebuilding, with a cadre of stars led by Preston Harris graduated, but Johnson feels this team is more cohesive and has better chemistry this season.

Kubasaki Dragons 2013-14 season record — 19-7 overall, second at Far East D-I.Head coach — Jon Fick, ninth season.Key performers — Nick Ashley, Jr., G-F (two-time All-Far East); Matthew Ashley, Jr., F; Imani Washington, Jr., G; Eiji Graves, Jr., G; Isaiah Johnson, Jr., F; Skyler Stevens, Jr., G (transfer from Kadena); Jared Eusebio, Jr., G; Elijah Jones, Jr., G; Damien Burke, Fr., G; Jonah Bailey, Sr., G.Outlook — Contending. Fick has won three D-I tournament titles in his eight season, and after coming up just short in the D-I final on the Dragons’ home court, Fick is hoping he has the components to take the final step and grab his fourth brass ring.

JapanNile C. Kinnick Red Devils 2012-13 season record — 2-19 overall, 15th at Far East D-I.Head coach — Robert Stovall, fifth season.Key performers — Kyle O’Brien, Sr.; Jabari Johnson, Jr.; Josiah Ferguson, Jr.; Tarick Deadmon, Fr.; Dominic Rosa, Jr.; Xavier Torres, Jr.Outlook — The mother of all rebuilding jobs. One component with varsity experience, O’Brien, is back; the rest are either new to the game or moving up from junior varsity. Long road, but the only way it can go is up.

Division II

South KoreaDaegu Warriors 2013-14 season record — 25-7 overall, defending Far East D-II champion.Head coach — Phillip Loyd, ninth season.Key performers — DeAndre Rosalie, Jr.; Joone Abaya, Jr.; Letrail Collins, Sr.; Devin Speights, Fr.; Jay Diaz, Sr.; Jonathan McCarty, Jr.Outlook — Rebuilding, with the core of last year’s D-II champion either graduated or transferred. But Loyd says his Warriors should climb to contending status by the KAIAC and Far East tournaments, if everything falls into place.

Osan Cougars 2013-14 season record — 9-16 overall, fifth at Far East D-II.Head coach — James Toliver, second season.Key performers — Sean Copia, Sr., PG; Chase Kingsbury, So., G; Nicholas White, Sr., G; Sung DeAngelo, So., F; Justin Maglalang, So., F.Outlook — Rebuilding-reloading. Toliver’s young core of a season ago is a year older and a year wiser; question is whether it translates to something bigger. Much of the leadership load falls to Kingsbury and Copia. Must overcome the loss of three major role-playing seniors. Small team this season.

Humphreys Blackhawks Head coach — Joshua Henry, first season.2013-14 season record — 3-21 overall.Key performers — Dai’Quan Wilson, Sr., G.Outlook — Still in the throes of getting a program off the ground, with its second coach in its two seasons.

JapanYokota Panthers 2013-14 season record — 16-5 overall, seventh at Far East D-I.Head coach — Paul Ettl, 10th season.Key performers — Marcus Henagan, Jr., G; Jadan Anderson, Sr., G (All-Far East); Hunter Cort, So., G-F; Jamarvin Harvey, Jr., F; Jermaine Neal, Sr., G; Shota Sprunger, So., F.Outlook — Contending at D-II. After spending its entire 40-plus-year history as a large school, Panthers in the face of an enrollment drop make the move to D-II and could make a deep run at the Far East title.

E.J. King Cobras 2013-14 season record — 9-21 overall, seventh at Far East D-II.Head coach — Scott Jarrard, second season.Key performers — Josh Lyle, Sr., G; Jake Lyle, Sr., G; Rikki Kendall, Jr., G; Gemar Caasi, So., PG; Dijon Johnson, Sr., F.Outlook — Reloading. A handful of players return and the Cobras feature a more experienced lineup than in years past – the Lyles are in their fourth year with the team – but plenty of youngsters coming off the bench. Filling the shoes of Kershawn Lustre and Jackson Small will be a big task.

Robert D. Edgren Eagles 2013-14 season record — 15-11-1 overall, fourth at Far East D-II.Head coach — Chris Herrera, first season.Key performers — Terrill Carr, Jr., G; Shawn Robinson, Jr., G; Kayman Plummer., G Ewmar Thompson, Jr., F; Isaac Victorino, So., F.Outlook — Rebuilding. New coach, new system, some returning experience, but replacing transferred Khaleem and Khair Shabaaz, now living in Georgia, will be difficult.

Matthew C. Perry Samurai 2013-14 season record — 16-10-1 overall, second at Far East D-II.Head coach — Dewayne Pigge’, fifth season.Key performers — Jarell Davis, Sr., PF (all-Far East); Jon Cadavos, Sr., G (all-Far East); Vincent Ermitano, Jr., SG (all-Far East); Garrett Macias, Fr., C; David Lawrence, Jr., PF (transfer from States).Outlook — Contending at D-II level. Pieces are there for the Samurai to take care of the unfinished business they left behind in the D-II final on their home court.Zama Trojans 2013-14 season record — 16-14 overall, third in Far East D-II.Head coach — Parish Jones, fourth season.Key performers — Joseph Atkinson, Sr., C/F; Alex Jones, Jr., F/G (All-Far East).Outlook — Rebuilding. Aside from the two returners, the rest of the lineup will be filled with JV move-ups and two transfers.

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