HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL PREVIEW : Early Signs Bode Well for a Reign of the Monarchs : Preps: With the marquee player in Boseman and a strong supporting cast, Morningside appears to be the team to beat in the 1991-92 season.

From all appearances, this could be the year of the Monarchs in the South Bay.

Morningside High is still alive in its quest for a Southern Section Division VIII football title entering tonight’s quarterfinal game against Valley View of Moreno Valley.

But the Monarchs may save their most impressive feat for the boys’ basketball season.

Going into the season, which starts Monday, Morningside is the South Bay team that appears to have the best chance of winning a Southern Section division championship. For that matter, maybe even a state title.

A lot will probably depend on Morningside’s much-heralded junior Stais Boseman, a 6-foot-3 swingman who doubles as the school’s quarterback.

“We want Stais back as soon as possible but we’re not in a hurry,” assistant Thomas Robinson said. “We’re happy for the success of our football program and we hope to feed off their success.”

Whereas Morningside appears to be the area’s top Southern Section team, defending 4-A Division champion Westchester could be the leader among L.A. City teams, although Carson is not far behind.

Many of the area’s top teams, including Morningside and Carson, will open the season in the 40th annual Pacific Shores tournament, which begins Monday at Redondo and Mira Costa high schools.

Following is a capsule look at the top 10 teams in the South Bay. Last season’s record is in parentheses:

1. Morningside (27-5)--With a young squad, the Monarchs came within a whisker of winning the Southern Section Division III-A championship last season.

The Monarchs lost to Servite in the title game, 49-46. But it may be difficult to deny Morningside a championship this season.

Starting with Boseman, who averaged 20.8 points and was the first sophomore to be honored as The Times South Bay Player of the Year, the Monarchs are one of the most talented teams in the Southern Section.

Morningside has ample size with the return of 6-foot-8 center Pauliasi Taulava, forwards Cory Saffold (6-7), Tyrell Williams (6-6) and Dwight Curry (6-5). In the backcourt, the Monarchs return point guard Sean Harris (5-6) and have added a top transfer in Donminic Ellison (6-3) from Hawthorne High.

“We ought to be a very good ballclub,” Robinson said. “But how good depends on how we do with staying out of foul trouble and matching up with other teams. This is a good team but this is our toughest schedule ever.”

2. Westchester (22-8)--The Comets may have surprised a few teams in their march to the City 4-A title last season.

Coach Ed Azzam knows that this team will not have that luxury. Westchester opened its season Monday with a 58-47 victory over defending City 3-A champion Fremont.

“Last year, not a whole lot was expected of the team,” Azzam said. “This year, the expectations are a lot higher. But we also have a lot more confidence.”

Not to mention the return of four starters and nine lettermen. The starters returning are point guard James Gray (6-4), guard Jason Sanders (6-2) and forwards Lorenzo Ball (6-5) and Walter Walker (6-5).

Toss in players such as guards James Towns (5-11) and Maurice Robinson (6-1), forward LaValle Ball (6-6) and center Marty Cartwright (6-9), and the Comets have as much size and depth as any team in the City.

“The big question is: Can this team handle the attention?” Azzam said. “They’ve received a lot of publicity so far but they’ve been real receptive to everything.”

3. Carson (17-10)--After reaching the City 4-A quarterfinals, only to lose to eventual champion Westchester, the Colts have more lofty goals in mind this season.

“We’d like to think that if all the pieces fall in, we’ve got a chance to win it all this year,” Coach Richard Masson said.

With three of their starters and a top prospect at center returning, there is no question about Carson’s ability.

The Colts return forward Rudy Washington (6-4), guard William Thomas (6-3) and point guard Tyrone Daniels (6-1) and have one of the premier centers in the City in 6-10 Khary Stanley. Washington, who averaged 19.6 points, and Stanley have both signed national letters of intent to attend Drake.

Carson also appears to have the necessary depth with players such as Chris Ramsey (6-2) and Charles Perry (6-3) at forward and guards Keith Anderson (5-10), Shondrell Taylor (5-6) and Nickey Huntley (5-9).

4. Bishop Montgomery (10-14)--Even without the addition of two outstanding transfers, Coach Doug Mitchell was excited about his team’s prospects.

But with the addition of All-Southern Section forward Andre English (6-7) from Ribet Academy and 6-5 forward Ian Patel from St. Bernard, there is hope that the Knights can challenge perennial power St. Bernard for the Mission League title.

“It’s the best Bishop team in 10 years,” Mitchell said. “It might be the best in history. But it’s at least the best in a long time.”

The two transfers should complement the three returning starters. They are All-Mission League guard Marlon D’Oyen (6-1), center Jason Van Sloten (6-7) and forward Damon Jones (6-0).

The Knights, who reached the second round of the II-A Division playoffs last season, also have a promising point guard in 5-10 sophomore Kareem Mutrie. “I think he’s going to be the best guard I’ve ever coached here,” Mitchell said.

5. St. Bernard (14-13)--This will not be the tallest or most experienced team the Vikings have ever had, but Coach Jim McClune is hardly complaining.

“We have just about everything you need,” he said. “We don’t have a whole lot of height. But we’re a very sound, competitive basketball team.”

The Vikings return only three lettermen from a squad that reached the III-A quarterfinals last season: point guard Parker Jenkins (6-2), guard Marcus McCoy (6-3) and 6-6 post player Chris Keldorf--the starting quarterback in football.

Among the top newcomers are guard Terrell Hickman (6-0), a junior who averaged 20 points for the school’s Mission League champion junior varsity team last season, and center Derek Bias (6-4).

Bias is the nephew of Inglewood Coach Art Bias, whose team meets St. Bernard in the first round of the Pacific Shores tournament Monday night at Redondo High.

6. Peninsula (35-41)--Coach John Mihaljevich was overjoyed when he took a look at the wealth of talent he inherited.

“I’ve been coaching for 30 years and I don’t think I’ve ever had this much talent,” Mihaljevich said.

With the merging of Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills and Miraleste high schools into Peninsula, the Panthers are certainly one of the most talented teams in the South Bay. In fact, the coach said he will probably use as many as 10 players during games.

The top player is 6-7 forward John Anthony, a senior who has signed a national letter of intent to attend Loyola Marymount in the fall. Anthony averaged 17 points and eight rebounds as a junior at Palos Verdes High and has a 40-inch vertical leap.

Peninsula, which has 12 seniors on its 13-player roster, will also feature point guard David Iwasaka (5-9) and guards Julius Coleman (5-11) and Frank White (6-1).

7. Mira Costa (20-8)--The Mustangs finished second to Morningside in the Ocean League and advanced to the second round of the Division III-AA playoffs.

Considering that six lettermen return, it would not be a surprise for the Mustangs to enjoy similar success this season.

“We should have a quick, young, excellent team,” Coach Glenn Marx said. “We beat Morningside in a league game last year and we figure to compete for the league title (again).”

Mira Costa, which was 24-4 in summer league play, is young but talented at guard with players such as junior Josh Branca and sophomore Shane Willis. The Mustangs also have a youthful front line that includes 6-5 juniors Frank Zeno and John Murphy and 6-4 junior Chris Whitworth.

8. Torrance (18-8)--The Tartars won the Pioneer League title and advanced to the Division II-AA quarterfinals before losing to J.W. North, but with three starters returning, Coach Bob Little is even more optimistic about this season.

“I think we’re going to be a better team this year than we were last year if we can survive our tough early-season schedule,” Little said.

The Tartars return starting point guard Michael Dean (6-0), a junior who averaged 17.4 points and earned all-league honors last season, center Joe Otos (6-8) and guard Darryl Burgess (6-0).

Torrance also adds several players from a junior varsity team that won the league title, including most valuable player Adrian Dupin, a 6-5 forward.

“I think we can hold our own with most schools in the South Bay,” Little said.

9. Serra (6-18)--After reaching the Division IV-A quarterfinals, the Cavaliers are optimistic about this season.

Several of the top players return, and promising players from the junior varsity team should add depth to Coach Dwan Hurt’s squad.

“Last year we took our bumps and bruises and we learned a lot,” Hurt said. “This team is one year older and they know what is expected of them. We’re so far ahead of where we were last year, it’s like night and day.”

The Cavaliers expect to be led by 6-2 senior guard Dan Carpenter, who averaged 24.2 points to rank among the South Bay scoring leaders and is also one of the team’s top defensive players.

Serra also has a talented group of juniors, including guard Rashaan Shehee (6-1), who also starts at tailback for the football team, point guard Roger Swift (6-1) and 6-4 forward Michael Boyd, whom the coach calls his most athletic and versatile player.

10. Hawthorne (14-12)--The Cougars do not return an abundance of experience for Ron Randle in his first season as coach.

In fact, the only returning player is 6-5 junior forward Marcus Jones.

But Randle, who guided the Morningside girls to a second-place finish in the state Division I tournament last season, says he has a good feeling about the program’s prospects.

“We’re really excited about our future because we feel like we have some good, young players in our program,” he said. “I can promise you one thing. We will be competitive. We’re not in this thing to lose, and our players want to win.”

In addition to Jones, the Cougars will rely on players such as Richard Ortega (6-4), Ray Outler (5-11) and LeBarron Jones (6-0) at guard and Cory McKnight (6-3), Tony Martinez (6-4) and Vacenio Warren (6-5) at forward.

Other area teams to watch:

Inglewood (17-9)--It will be a new look for the Sentinels, who lost most of their players from last season’s squad that won the Bay League title and reached the second round of the Division I-A playoffs. They return two returning lettermen, 6-3 forwards Jimmy Britt and Chris Thomas. Chris White, a standout guard on the junior varsity team, should add scoring punch. With a difficult schedule, Coach Art Bias says his team could struggle early in the season, although plenty of talent abounds.

South Torrance (9-16)--The Spartans finished fourth in the five-team Pioneer League last season, but first-year Coach Lamont Henry believes the team can emerge as a contender for the league title. Returning starters include Kyle McIntosh (6-7) at center and guards Alan Hook and Jason Anthony. The top newcomer is guard Jimmy Williamson, a standout for the junior varsity team.

Redondo (15-14)--The Sea Hawks have a new coach, although Cliff Warren is no stranger to the South Bay, having coached at Rolling Hills. Warren believes Redondo has the right ingredients to succeed behind returning point guard Ted Silva and forwards David Cottey (6-5) and Ryan Turner (6-5).

Banning (5-19)--Coach Mark Paez says he is cautiously optimistic about his team’s chances after a disappointing 1990-91 season. “I think we’ll be more competitive and hopefully pull out a few more victories,” Paez said. The Pilots have only one returning letterman, guard Sean Washington. Top newcomers include forward Bryan Hill and Los Angeles High transfer Jana Wafer at guard.

Chadwick (17-10)--The Dolphins saw last season end in a disappointing defeat to Capistrano Valley Christian in the first round of the Division V-AA playoffs, but could have better luck with the return of six top lettermen, including guard Joe Giaconi, forward Mac McKinnie and forward Nate Severson.

Narbonne (9-14)--The Gauchos return only two letterman, 6-0 swingmen Jabari Mayes and Charles Robinson. So Narbonne will rely largely on players up from the junior varsity, including guard Myke White and center Mark Skinner (6-6). “We don’t have as much height as some of the teams we play,” Coach Bob Hoppes said. “But we’ll still be in it somewhere.”

Gardena (6-17)--With five juniors and a sophomore among their top seven players, the Mohicans could be a season away from a stellar season. Gardena will rely on players such as guards Robert Isaacs and Karim Ziyad and swingman LaRon Campbell-Hall, a 6-1 transfer from Hawthorne.