After being labeled as the dangerous "sleeper" in several recent Hawaiian Airlines-Hawai'i High School Athletic Association Boys Basketball Championship tournaments, Kamehameha enters this week's tourney in the rare position of No. 1 seed.

The Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion Warriors won their first ILH title since 1992 by going 11-1 in the regular season, with their only loss coming in a 44-41 defeat at 'Iolani in early January.

But despite the top seed, Kamehameha is by no means an overwhelming favorite as the 12-team Division I field features several legitimate contenders.

Those include No. 2 seed and O'ahu Interscholastic Association champ Kahuku, ILH runner up 'Iolani and OIA runner-up Kaimuki.

Even defending state champ Punahou, which went 6-6 in the regular season, has come on strong in the postseason and may be considered the dark-horse pick.

First-round action starts today with games at Radford and McKinley.

At Radford, 'Iolani plays Lahainaluna at 5 p.m., followed by Campbell vs. Punahou at 7.

At McKinley, Kaimuki faces Kea'au at 5, followed by Kalaheo vs. Radford at 7.

Quarterfinal action is set for tomorrow at the same two sites, and the action moves to Blaisdell Arena for Friday's semifinals and Saturday's championship.

The Division II tournament also starts tonight, with games at Farrington and Kalani.

The DII championship will be held at Blaisdell on Saturday and will be televised live on OC16 along with the DI final.

Here is a closer look at all 12 Division I teams (records are for regular and postseason):

BALDWIN

Coach: Wayne Gushiken.

Record: 14-0.

Berth: MIL champion.

Notable: The Bears are young, with only four seniors on a 15-man roster. Lincoln Seto, a 5-foot-10 senior, is a high-scoring guard. Pasoni Tasini is a 6-4 freshman center.

CAMPBELL

Coach: Zaricke Jackson.

Record: 12-4.

Berth: OIA fourth place.

Notable: The Sabers like to play an up-tempo pace, and have the athletes to do it. But they also are prone to turnovers when they cannot play in control. Guards Zachery and Cristian Manuel are quick and can hit the 3-point shot. Center/forward Patrick Ward (6-4) is agile and also can step out and shoot from the perimeter.

'IOLANI

Coach: Mark Mugiishi.

Record: 10-2.

Berth: ILH runner-up.

Notable: The Raiders hit a rough late-season stretch when they lost players to injury and academics, but recovered to finish strong. Senior forward Pablo Warner (6-2) is an aggressive scorer, and junior guard Kainoa Chu (6-0) is a dangerous 3-point shooter. Senior guard Kela Marciel (5-10) is a tough defender, and junior forward Jarrett Arakawa (6-0) is a versatile athlete who can hit the open shot and help with rebounding and setting picks. The Raiders have depth and rotate up to 10 players regularly.

KAHUKU

Coach: Hiram Akina.

Record: 17-1.

Berth: OIA champion.

Notable: The Red Raiders have a little bit of everything — height, speed, shooters, pressure defense. Senior guard Jray Galeai (6-0) is very quick, athletic and strong, able to score off the dribble or from the perimeter. Junior guard Nehoa Akina (5-8) is a steady shooter and 3-point threat. Senior guard Irwin Ah-Hoy (6-0) has hit some big shots at crucial moments. Posts Kona Schwenke (6-4, Jr.) and Christian Feagai (6-8, Sr.) are not big scorers but present a rebounding and shot-blocking presence. Senior forward Aulola Tonga (6-3) injured his ankle last Thursday and did not suit up for Saturday's OIA championship game.

KAIMUKI

Coach: Kelly Grant.

Record: 13-5.

Berth: OIA runner-up.

Notable: Despite coming off two losses in the OIA tournament, the Bulldogs are peaking as usual late in the season and are a legitimate title contender. Senior point guard David Taulung (5-9) is a splendid ball-handler and passer who sets the tempo on offense and can create steals on defense. He also can shoot from the perimeter. Junior post Desmond Tautofi (6-2) is big, strong and athletic. Senior wings Ryan Kakitani (5-9) and Jason Nutter (6-0) are good shooters and ball-handlers who add more experience in the backcourt.

KALAHEO

Coach: Chico Furtado.

Record: 12-6.

Berth: OIA third place.

Notable: The Mustangs are in their 19th straight state tournament, the longest streak of any O'ahu team. The two main scorers are junior guard Aaron Fernandez (6-2) and senior center Matt Gasparine (6-1). Fernandez is a dangerous streak shooter who hit seven 3-pointers in an early-season victory over Kaimuki. Gasparine is physical in the post, but is also deceptively quick and agile. Senior guard Richard Preza-Haynes (5-9) can help with the perimeter scoring and senior forward Christian Kepa (6-2) adds more physical presence and rebounding.

KAMEHAMEHA

Coach: Jesse Nakanishi.

Record: 11-1.

Berth: ILH champion.

Notable: The Warriors' only loss came in a narrow 44-41 defeat at 'Iolani in early January. Starting post Auwae DeRego (6-3, Sr.), an athletic rebounder, did not play in the game due to injury. Senior guard Pi'i Minns (6-3) is extremely tough to defend — tall and athletic enough to jump and shoot over defenders and quick enough to beat them off the dribble. He also creates a lot of steals on defense. Forward Micah Christenson (6-5) might be the most versatile sophomore in the state, able to score inside and out, rebound, block shots and run the floor. Senior guard Chaz Bajet (5-8) is a smart ball-handler who takes high-percentage shots. Senior center Blake Viena (6-4) gets a lot of timely rebounds, blocks and inside baskets.

KEA'AU

Coach: Wade Aukai Ishibashi, Jr.

Record: 9-4.

Berth: BIIF runner-up.

Notable: The Cougars have dedicated this season to former coach Wade Ishibashi, Sr., who had planned to stay on as coach but died of leukemia in November. They are young, with only two seniors on a 14-man roster, but have several weapons on offense, including senior post Mtume Msikizi-Jackson (6-2), sophomore forward Richard Handy (5-11) and junior guards Haku Ishibashi (5-11) and Makana Cazimero (5-7).

LAHAINALUNA

Coach: Eric Balinbin.

Record: 8-6.

Berth: MIL runner-up.

Notable: The Lunas earned their state berth by edging King Kekaulike, 39-38, after senior Ty Carter sank a free throw with 15 seconds remaining, then lost to regular season champ Baldwin, 25-23, in the league's tournament final. They have height, with five players listed at 6 feet 2 or taller. Carter and Sam Kiek (6-3, Jr.) are listed as guards.

PUNAHOU

Coach: Dan Hale.

Record: 9-6.

Berth: ILH third place.

Notable: The defending champion Buffanblu could be the tournament's sleeper team. Their six losses came to Kamehameha, 'Iolani and Saint Louis — three teams ranked in The Advertiser's statewide Top 10 poll of coaches and media. They beat Saint Louis, 67-43, to earn third place in the ILH and then defeated Kamehameha-Hawai'i, 52-36, in Kea'au in a state tournament play-in game. Senior guards Dalton Hilliard (6-0) and Robby Toma (5-10) are quick and athletic. Senior post Kimo Makaula (6-3) is agile and can score from out to 12 feet, and fellow senior post Manti Te'o (6-2) is a physical presence under the basket. All four players are Division I football recruits. Starting small forward Kai Gaddis (6-2, Sr.) dislocated his elbow Saturday and is out for the tournament, but Henry Cassiday (6-2, Jr.) has returned from injury and will fill in (he hit the go-ahead basket in last year's title game). Taylor Crabb (6-2, Jr.) is a dangerous 3-point shooter off the bench.

RADFORD

Coach: Wayne Keys.

Record: 12-4.

Berth: OIA fifth place.

Notable: The Rams earned the OIA's fifth berth by out-racing Mililani, 66-60. They rely on an up-tempo game and can score in bunches, but also are prone to give up baskets in transition as well. Senior guard Quentin Kimura (5-7) is quick and effective in the open court as well as shooting from beyond the 3-point arc. Senior wing Derrell Lee (6-1) is another potent scorer who can score off the dribble or shooting from the perimeter.

WAIAKEA

Coach: Paul Lee.

Record: 11-2.

Berth: BIIF champion.

Notable: The Warriors are battle-tested, having lost to 'Iolani 41-38 in the finals of the St. Joseph/Waiakea Tournament in Hilo and winning overtime games against Hilo (77-70), Kea'au (59-55) and Kealakehe (60-59). Dakota Allen is a 6-4 junior center. Junior guards Mitchel Shinatani (5-9) and Matthew Libao (5-8) provide offense from the backcourt.