Basketball Preview : The Cream of The Crop : Boys: After Mater Dei, there are still plenty of talented basketball players to go around in Orange County.

Looking for world-beaters, or is there a high school basketball team outthere that can defeat Mater Dei?

Well, not in Orange County.

But there’s still plenty of talent running around, from San Clemente to La Habra and all parts in between.

From the top . . .

*

Is it March yet? A season ago, Mater Dei lost to Los Angeles Crenshaw in the Southern California Division I Regional final. Getting back won’t be easy, but it’s certainly doable. The talent is there.

Back is 6-foot-5 sophomore Schea Cotton, who many believe may be the nation’s top recruit two years from now. He can score inside and out.

Back is 6-7 senior Shaun Jackson, who has signed with Wyoming. He’s a powerful inside player who can dominate.

Back is 6-2 senior Clay McKnight, who isn’t out there because he’s the coach’s son. He’s deadly from outside.

Then there’s the make-or-break personnel. Can sophomore point guard Kevin Augustine run the show? Can 6-8 center Mike Vukovich take pressure off Jackson? Can the Monarchs survive what should be another brutal year in the state playoffs?

Coach Gary McKnight is taking no chances with the last question. He’s beefed up the Monarchs’ nonleague schedule. They will play in the Reebok Holiday Classic in Las Vegas, which features 50 top high school teams from across the country, and the always-tough Above the Rim tournament in San Diego, as well as the local Tournament of Champions.

Any lessons learned should remain intact during their annual 10-0 romp through the South Coast league.

Elsewhere . . .

*

Give us your tired . . . : Santa Ana Valley, that home for nomadic high school basketball players, got close last season, losing to La Crescenta Crescenta Valley in the Division I-AA semifinals. The Falcons picked up a couple players this season and could be there again.

Olujimi Mann, among the top point guards in the county, returns. He transferred from Mater Dei last season and made the Falcons a power. This year’s transfers, Ike Harmon (Century), a 6-7 forward, and Virgil Forbin (Loara), a 6-3 forward, could help Santa Ana Valley take it a step further.

Coach Rich Prospero toughened up the Falcons’ schedule with Tustin, Sonora and Crenshaw. The Falcons also will travel to the Raleigh (N.C.) Observer tournament.

*

Season won’t be a drag: Mark Seaton and David Downs are Servite’s team leaders on the court, and although they are a bit reserved and quiet, Friar Coach Scott Hamilton said they are dangerously funny.

“They come off very businesslike,” Hamilton said. “But especially David, he has a real dry sense of humor.”

Take this summer, for instance.

On a trip to Santa Barbara, after the basketball was done, the players decided to do a little shopping.

“They wanted to go to this thrift shop and some of the guys dressed up in all of these old ‘70s clothes,” Hamilton said. “But David dressed up like a woman. He kind of looked like Larry Johnson’s grandmama.”

And Hamilton hopes Downs will play like her too.

*

Big feet: The 6-9 Seaton, who has signed with Stanford, may be the best of the plethora of neck-craners around the county.

Sonora’s 7-0 senior Craig Clark, who is headed to San Jose State, Woodbridge’s 6-9 sophomore Chris Burgess, Katella’s 6-8 Mike Pahl and Chenowith are also head and shoulders above the crowd.

*

And here’s the pitch . . . : Think Burgess is an impressive sight on the court? How about on the mound.

Burgess, who transferred from Mater Dei, also is a pitcher for Woodbridge and has some very big advantages.

“I imagine he’s a little scary to hit against,” Woodbridge basketball Coach John Halagan said. “How would you like to have that tumbling off the mound at you?”

Of course, those things don’t really concern Halagan.

“I could care less if he’s got a good hook or fastball,” Halagan said. “I just want him to scare opponents on the basketball court.”

That won’t be difficult. Burgess is more than just your slam-’n’-jam type. He has a soft touch and can handle the ball.

“Quite frankly, he was amazing the moment he walked into our gym,” Halagan said.

*

Comeback kid: Fountain Valley Coach Gordon Billingsley was excited to see Mike Arvesen back on the court. Arvesen, a senior, saw significant playing time when he was a sophomore. But this season will be the first time he has played in 1 1/2 years.

Arvesen underwent knee surgery to repair a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, but that wasn’t all that was wrong. Billingsley said Arvesen also had a heart arrhythmia, from an enlarged heart condition he suffered as a result of a viral infection.

But Billingsley said doctors have given Arvesen the green light to play.

“I’m just glad he’s back,” Billingsley said of his sharp-shooting guard. “He’s a neat kid and I’m hoping he has a great year.”

*

Fertile ground: Tustin Coach Andy Ground and the Tillers won’t be wearing Doug Gottlieb thin this season.

There were times, a season ago, when the Notre Dame-bound Gottlieb was wandering in the wilderness. In other words, his supporting cast was stiff as pine trees.

Not so this season. With four starters returning, plus the coming of guard Robert Griffith, Gottlieb won’t lack for people who can pad his assist numbers.

“We played 55 games during the summer; that’s two seasons,” Ground said. “That matured some of these guys.”

Griffith, a 6-1 guard, averaged 24 points on the junior varsity. David Lalazarian, a 6-7 center, has made tremendous improvement.

“Doug has some options this year,” Ground said. “He doesn’t have to score as much. Even if Doug is having an off-night, we’ll be OK. We couldn’t survive that last year.”

*

Are they going forward or backward? OK, so one La Quinta basketball player just gets a little confused.

The Aztecs were getting ready to play the faculty last week, an exhibition in which they would display their new uniforms.

Coach Jim Perry was checking to see that everyone had a proper fit when he approached one player.

“He said, ‘Coach, look, the drawstring is broken.’ ” Perry said. “I looked and told him, ‘Son, you have your pants on backward.’ And this was a senior.”

Not to worry. The Aztecs are at least pointed in the right direction. They are favored to win the Garden Grove League.

*

The 1998-99 All--Orange County team? Saia Makakaufaki (6-3, Laguna Hills), Eric Palmer (5-7, University), Ryan Lee (5-10, Pacifica), Semaj Johnson (6-1, San Clemente) and Andy Gaulden (6-4, Esperanza) are freshmen who will see significant playing time this season.

And the 1998-99 player of the year? El Toro freshman Mark Wulfemeyer Jr., a 5-11 guard.

Even if he has only an ounce of his dad’s talent, he’s going to be pretty darn good. Dad, Mark Wulfemeyer Sr., is considered the best to have played in the county and still holds the county career scoring record (2,608 points).

But let’s let Mark Jr. blaze his own trail.

*

You do the math: Laguna Beach’s Bret Fleming on his team’s tough nonleague schedule, which features games against Santa Ana Valley, Orange and Mission Viejo. The Artists could also play Woodbridge, Lakewood and Servite in tournaments:

“If we aren’t able to go .500, the kids might be questioning themselves a little. But if we go .500, they’ll be thinking they can play with anybody. And if we’re able to go over .500, say .750 or something, I think we’ll be one of the top 15 teams in the county.” *

Got a slingshot handy? Calvary Chapel Coach Craig Falconer wanted to test his team, so he went right to the top. The Eagles will play Mater Dei on Jan. 4.

Now Calvary Chapel, a private school with about 400 students, should be good, with three returning starters, plus Nate Morton, a 6-5 forward. But Mater Dei?

“We have some good teams in our playoff division, like (Gardena) Serra and (L.A.) Verbum Dei,” Falconer said. “I wanted us to be prepared when we got to the playoffs.”

But Mater Dei?

“What good would it do us to play a weak schedule and go 16-0?” Falconer said.

Of course, this won’t exactly be new territory for some of his players. Many have gone against Mater Dei players in traveling team games. In fact, Falconer’s son, Kevin, a 6-0 point guard, has played against Monarch point guard Augustine on several occasions.

Still, Mater Dei?

*

Whew! The Mater Dei fate could have fallen on little St. Margaret’s.

Rick Bauer, the Tartans’ former coach, expressed some interest in playing the Monarchs. Bauer and McKnight were classmates at San Clemente High School. But Bauer left before cutting the deal, fortunately for new Coach Garrett Ohara.

The Tartans are talented, especially guard Damian Raibon, who has signed with San Francisco.

But Mater Dei?

*

Game of the year: Santa Ana Valley vs. Mater Dei, Southern California Division I Regional Final.

The Top 10

1. Mater Dei

Typical Monarch nightmare. Size and ability. Veteran squad with one of the best sophomores in the nation in Schea Cotton. A meaty schedule should toughen them for playoff run.

2. Santa Ana Valley

The Falcons reached the Division I-AA final. The return of Olujimi Mann and the addition of transfer Ike Harmon will make them a title contender. They’re just a notch below No. 1 Monarchs.

3. Tustin

Almost everyone is back from last season’s team, which lost to Compton Dominguez in the II-A semifinals. Doug Gottlieb and Co. could get another crack at the Dons down the line.

4. Servite

Mark Seaton and David Downs are a solid 1-2 punch. If sophomore Peter Martinelli develops at guard, the Friars will challenge Tustin for the league title.

5. Sonora

Craig Clark, a 7-foot senior, keeps improving and the Raiders have everyone back. They lost to Santa Margarita a year ago in III-AA semifinals, but are ready to take it further.

6. Katella

Coach Tom Danley, 514 victories and counting, has one of his best teams. He has Mike Pahl, a 6-8 center, and LaByron Clayton, a 6-5 forward, inside and guard Carlos Romero outside.

7. Trabuco Hills

The Mustangs move to the South Coast League, where everyone competes to finish second to Mater Dei. They have the best shot with guards Rob Warnick, Laquent Fobbs and Nick Punto back.

8. Los Alamitos

The Griffins return two starters, but Jeremy Vandervoet, a 6-7 center, and point guard Ali Ton make them tough. They move from the Empire to Sunset League, but still should be champions.

9. Woodbridge

Chris Burgess, a 6-9 center, transferred from Mater Dei and the Warriors were instant Sea View League contenders. This is not a one-man show, with Eric Ripley and Todd Semm back.

10. Fountain Valley

The Barons, Sunset League champions last season, have another solid no-star team. Center Phil Domingo and guard Dan Keller return and Paul Tayyar transferred from Newport Harbor.

Others to Watch: Calvary Chapel, Cypress, La Quinta, Pacifica, St. Margaret’s, Santa Margarita.