PLAYOFFS WILL SHOWCASE TOP PREP TALENT.

Byline: VINCENT BONSIGNORE

It's been touted as one of the top senior basketball classes in the country, and certainly it's the best group of players Southern California has assembled in many years.

From Cedric Bozeman and Jamaal Sampson at Mater Dei to Tyson Chandler at Dominguez to Josh Childress at Mayfair to Dijon Thompson at Redondo Union to the Craven twins, Derrick and Errick, at Bishop Montgomery, Southern California is awash in top college recruits.

With the playoffs starting this week, we get to find out who ends their high school careers as champions.

Here's a look at the Southern Section and City Section playoffs, by division.

City Championship

This should be an easy walk for Westchester, the top seed and the fourth-ranked team in USA Today's national poll. Keith Everage and Brandon Health lead a balanced attack.

The only team close to the Comets is No. 2-seeded Fairfax. Of course, Westchester easily handled the the Lions in both meetings this year, so that pretty much sums that up.

As for teams from the Daily News region, only Grant and Taft have legitimate shots to reach the second round, and that's only because they play each other in the first round. The winner gets Westchester, unless 16th-seeded Marshall pulls off an unlikely upset in the opening round Friday.

--Pick: Westchester, easily.

SOUTHERN SECTION

Division I-A

Mater Dei, the defending champion, is stacked with stars. Bozeman, a point guard, is headed to UCLA, and the 6-10 Sampson will play at Cal. They are surrounded by size, athletic ability, shooters, depth and youth.

Only a monumental fall will deny the Monarchs another championship, although possible threats come in the form of Villa Park and Centennial of Corona, which features Erik Soderberg (6-10) and Lance Soderberg (6-8). Other than that, it will be a smooth ride.

From the region, Lancaster could slide into the quarterfinals, but the Bulldogs run ends there against Mater Dei.

--Pick: Size the Monarchs up for more rings.

Division I-AA

El Toro is the top seed, but this is a division that reeks of upset potential, with two teams from the region figuring prominently.

No. 4-seeded Thousand Oaks, with its shooting ability, has a chance to get to the quarterfinals with wins over Hart in the first round, then Quartz Hill or Camarillo. Lancers forwards Kyle Kegley and Ben Olson thrive in big-game situations, so the playoffs are a perfect stage for their clutch capabilities.

Crescenta Valley struggled this year with injuries and illness, but when the Falcons are healthy, they can do damage.

With forward James Jenkins and guards Chris Tande and Jimmy Goffredo, Crescenta Valley is potent, smart and capable. The Falcons have a chance to win at least two games.

--Pick: Glendora beats Thousand Oaks in the final.

Division I-AAA

This is one of the more appealing divisions, with the potential for a championship match up between top-seeded Upland and second-seeded Long Beach Poly. Both teams are loaded and athletic, and they play the type of game fans love to watch.

--The Pick: Long Beach Poly upsets Upland.

Division II-AA

Dominguez of Compton is the top seed, but the Dons can be had. Just ask Fresno Clovis West, which took Dominguez apart at the MLK Classic at Loyola Marymount last month.

At 7-foot, Chandler is considered the second-best center in the country, and he's leaning toward bypassing college in favor of the NBA draft. On one hand, it's a mistake - Chandler isn't physically mature enough for the pounding he'll take in the NBA. Then again, he'll get millions as a lottery pick.

Although the Dons have been shaky at times, especially in the backcourt, they should have enough to get through this bracket. Inglewood, with talented junior forward DeAngelo Collins, could pose a threat in the final.

As for the locals, Westlake has a shot in the first round against La Serna, and Agoura should handle Pasadena. Moorpark is in trouble against Paso Robles.

--Pick: Chandler leads the Dons to the title, then takes a limo to NBA riches.

Division II-A

This division features two of the top players in the country in Redondo's Dijon Thompson (UCLA) and Mayfair's Josh Childress (Stanford), and there's a good chance they'll square off in the final.

Both lead deep, athletic teams.

Newbury Park is the only team from the region involved and the Panthers travel to Dos Pueblos to face the Channel League champion Chargers.

--Pick: Thompson, setting the stage for some classic Pac-10 battles against Childress, delivers the title for Redondo.

Division III-AA

Another division boasting serious talent. From top-seeded Torrance Bishop Montgomery, it's the USC-bound Craven twins, a pair of tough, athletic, hardnosed guards who will make an immediate impact for the Trojans.

Fellow USC recruit Rory O'Neil leads an underrated Burroughs Ridgecrest team, and Chaminade of West Hills has Santa Clara-bound forward Scott Borchart and Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks has guards Cody Pearson and Michael Luderer.

The local teams, including La Canada, could advance as far as the quarterfinals, but in a division heavy with quality teams, they could easily lose in the first or second round, too.

Either way, this sets up to be the Cravens show.

--The pick: Bishop Montgomery rolls over Compton Centennial in the final.

Division IV-AA

Crespi, the top seed, earned a share of the Mission League title, and the experience of playing highly charged, playoff-type games almost every night in league will serve the Celts well.

Andrew Moore is a savvy, experienced shooting guard and he's gotten help throughout the line up this year.

The only other area team in the draw is Oak Park, which opens against Murphy.

--The Pick: Crespi wins the title.