Keith Pompey: The state playoffs: A boys' hoops preview

Here is my look at the PIAA state boys' basketball tournament that begins today.

Roman Catholic (18-8), District 12, No. 1 seed.

First round: Central Bucks South, tomorrow at Archbishop Ryan, 2:30 p.m. Player to watch: Maalik Wayns, 6-foot-1 senior point guard. Projection: The Cahillites will post impressive victories until they run into Norristown in the semifinals. Still, they triumph and go on to cut down the nets at Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center.

Southern (16-11), 12-2. First round: Plymouth Whitemarsh, tomorrow at St. Joseph's Prep, 1 p.m. Player to watch: Jamir Hanner, 6-6 junior forward. Projection: The scrappy Rams will be shown the door by PW's youthful group.

North Catholic (17-8), 12-3. First round: Pennsbury, tomorrow at Council Rock South, 1 p.m. Player to watch: Rakeem Christmas, 6-9 sophomore forward-center. Projection: In a toss-up game that could go either way, North loses.

Bartram (17-8), 12-4. First round: Pocono Mountain East, tomorrow at Pleasant Valley in Brodheadsville, 2 p.m. Player to watch: Tyrone Garland, 6-0 junior guard. Projection: The Maroon Wave smack Pocono Mountain East to set up a rematch against Penn Wood in the second round- and loses.

Norristown (22-5), District, 1, No. 1 seed. First round: Elizabethtown, tomorrow at Wissahickon, 2:30 p.m. Player to watch: Khalif Wyatt, 6-3 senior guard. Projection: The Eagles advance to the state semifinals only to lose a heartbreaker to Roman Catholic.

Penn Wood (23-4), 1-2. First round: Penn Manor, tomorrow at Norristown, 2:30 p.m. Player to watch: Duane Johnson, 6-5 senior guard. Projection: The Patriots fly high until they run into Pennsbury in the quarterfinals. They win then beat Peters Township in the semis but lose to Roman in an all-area state final.

Conestoga (26-3), 1-3. First round: Harrisburg, tomorrow at Spring-Ford, 2:30 p.m. Player to watch: Jake Cohen, 6-10 senior center. Projection: The Pioneers take Harrisburg to the wire - and lose.

Pennsbury (22-5), 1-4. First round: North Catholic, tomorrow at Council Rock South, 1 p.m. Player to watch: Dalton Pepper, 6-5 senior guard. Projection: The Falcons glide into the quarterfinals but get bounced by Penn Wood.

Chester (23-4), 1-5. First round: Red Land, tomorrow at HersheyPark Arena in Hershey, 3:30 p.m. Player to watch: Rahlir Jefferson, 6-6 senior forward. Projection: The defending state champion Clippers score two wins, setting up a quarterfinal matchup with Norristown. They fall to the Eagles - again.

Plymouth Whitemarsh (22-5), 1-6. First round: Southern, tomorrow at St. Joseph's Prep, 1 p.m. Player to watch: C.J. Aiken, 6-9 junior center. Projection: The Patriots have to settle for just one win.

Lower Merion (23-6), 1-7. First round: Parkland, tomorrow at William Allen in Allentown, 4 p.m. Player to watch: Greg Robbins, 6-4 senior guard. Projection: After opening the season with a loss to Parkland, the Aces' season ends against the same team.

Central Bucks South (21-6), 1-8. First round: Roman Catholic, tomorrow at Archbishop Ryan, 2:30 p.m. Player to watch: Will Barrett, 6-8 senior forward. Projection: After a loss in the district quarterfinals and two more in the consolations, the Titans' first state-tournament appearance ends at the hands of Roman.

Glen Mills (21-7), 1-9. First round: Central Dauphin East, tomorrow at HersheyPark Arena in Hershey, 6:30 p.m. Player to watch: Aaric Murray, 6-11 senior center. Projection: The Battling Bulls won three consolation contests and a play-in game to make a state-tournament appearance. That's a lot of work for what will be a first-round exit.

Neumann-Goretti (24-2), District 12, No. 1 seed. First round: Steelton-Highspire, tonight at Southern, 8 o'clock. Player to watch: Tony Chennault, 6-3 junior guard. Projection: The Saints set the tone by thumping the defending state champions. Two weekends later, they're winning the state title.

Franklin Learning Center (19-6), 12-2. First round: Strath Haven, tonight at Southern, 6:30. Player to watch: Denzel Yard, 6-0 senior guard. Projection: The Bobcats top Strath Haven but have no answer for York Suburban in the second round.

Archbishop Carroll (22-3), 12-3. First round: Phoenixville, tonight at Norristown, 7:30. Player to watch: Kasheef Festus, 6-5 senior forward. Projection: The Patriots get two wins en route to another rematch against a Philadelphia Catholic League foe, Neumann-Goretti. The Saints win for the third time this season.

Phoenixville (21-5), District 1, No. 1 seed. First round: Archbishop Carroll, tonight at Norristown, 7:30. Player to watch: Greg Peters, 6-6 senior center. Projection: The Phantoms' season ends early.

Strath Haven (14-12), 1-2. First round: Franklin Learning Center, tonight at Southern, 6:30. Player to watch: Calvin Newell, 6-0 senior guard. Projection: The Panthers made a nice run to earn the district's second seed. But Franklin Learning Center awaits.

Holy Ghost Prep (17-10), 1-3. First round: Wyomissing, tonight at Governor Mifflin in Shillington, 8. Player to watch: Nate Lorence, 6-5 junior center. Projection: The Firebirds top Wyomissing only to duplicate last season's exit.

Imhotep Charter (27-1), District 12, No. 1 seed. First round: Delone Catholic, tomorrow at Southern, 3 p.m. Players to watch: Sam Prescott, 6-3 senior guard. Projection: On the third consecutive try, the Panthers finally get a semifinal victory. Then they topple Pittsburgh North Catholic to win the state title.

West Catholic (15-10), 12-2. First round: Salisbury Township, tomorrow at Monsignor Bonner, 3 p.m. Player to watch: Rob Hollomon, 5-8 senior guard. Projection: The Burrs upset Holy Cross in the second round, nip Strawberry Mansion in the quarterfinal but lose to Imhotep.

Prep Charter (20-6), 12-3. First round: Pequea Valley, tomorrow at Garden Spot in New Holland, 5:30 p.m. Player to watch: Ferg Myrick, 6-5 senior forward. Projection: The Huskies breeze into the quarterfinals before losing again to Imhotep.

Strawberry Mansion (18-4), 12-4. First round: Trinity, tomorrow at HersheyPark Arena in Hershey, 2 p.m. Player to watch: Darren Lawrence, 6-1 senior guard. Projection: The reigning state champion runner-up Knights lose in the quarterfinals.

Saint Pius X (19-6), District 1, No. 1 seed. First round: Dunmore, tomorrow at Wissahickon, 1 p.m. Player to watch: Ross Reber, 6-0 junior guard. Projection: The Winged Lions turn a favorable first-round matchup into a victory, but that's where the favors end.

Math, Civics & Sciences (21-5), District 12 No. 1 seed. First round: Church Farm, tonight at St. Joseph's Prep, 8. Player to watch: Jose Ortiz, 6-2 junior guard. Projection: The Mighty Elephants shock Greenwood in the second round then fall to Girard College in the quarterfinals.

Girard College (21-4), District 1, No. 1 seed. First round: Camp Hill, tonight at Plymouth Whitemarsh, 6. Player to watch: John Johnson, 6-1 sophomore guard. Projection: After beating Math, Civics & Sciences in the quarterfinals, the Cavaliers top Millville but lose to Kennedy Catholic in the final.

Faith Christian (19-6), 1-2. First round: Reading Central Catholic, tonight at Governor Mifflin in Shillington, 5. Player to watch: Ray Riddick, 5-11 senior guard. Projection: Having to face Reading Central Catholic means a loss.

Church Farm (18-8), 1-3. First round: Math, Civics & Sciences, tonight at St. Joseph's Prep, 8. Player to watch: Cordell Long, 6-3 sophomore forward. Projection: The Griffins' season will end tonight.