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 Mater Dei's Andee Velasco, right, returns for her senior season with hopes to leading the Monarchs to CIF-SS and state titles, which eluded them last season.
Mater Dei’s Andee Velasco, right, returns for her senior season with hopes to leading the Monarchs to CIF-SS and state titles, which eluded them last season.
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THE REGISTER’S O.C. TOP 10 FOR 2014-15:

1. MATER DEI: The Monarchs will have plenty of talent to surround Katie Lou Samuelson, but Mater Dei is ranked at the top of the county because it returns the top player in the country. Samuelson, a Connecticut commit, averaged 26.3 points and 9.8 rebounds per game while shooting 54 percent from 3-point range. Add to the mix LMU-bound point guard Andee Velasco and some talented newcomers, and the Monarchs remain the team to beat in the county and the state.

2. TROY: A year after reaching the regional semifinals in the CIF state tournament, the Warriors have loads of talent returning and a couple new faces who should make a significant impact. Troy returns 12 players from last year’s team, including second-team All-County guard Barbara Sitanggan, who averaged 14.6 points and 4.6 steals per game last season. Junior forward Rebecca Lazuka and sophomore transfer Naomi Hunt, both 6-foot-1, add a significant presence to the Warriors’ frontcourt.

3. EL DORADO: No two teams are closer in these rankings than El Dorado and Brea Olinda. Last season, the two games between the teams were decided by a combined seven points, with El Dorado winning by four points at home and Brea winning by three on its own home court. Returning first-team All-County selections Brooke Salas and Jaylin Jones put the Golden Hawks an inch ahead.

4. BREA OLINDA: The Wildcats may not be all the way back to their days when they routinely won state titles and were high in the national rankings, but they’re also not that far off. Returning from last season’s 20-8 squad is second-team All-County guard Reili Richardson and third-team selection Shaylissa Jarrett. Brea will also add 6-foot freshman forwards Tyiona Watkins and Kris Marsh to the mix.

5. JSERRA: The Lions might struggle adjusting to the loss of Coco Miller (torn ACL), the county’s leading scorer a year ago, but they can put a lot of weight on the shoulders of 6-foot-4 center Megan House, a Pepperdine commit. Waiting in the wings will be freshmen forwards Tristan Saltonstall and Kabreah Anderson, who are 6-2 and 6-1, respectively.

6. FOOTHILL: The Knights were on Brea and El Dorado’s tail last season in the Century League. Foothill had two single-digit losses to Brea, split its season series with El Dorado and returns leading scorer Sydney Sharp. Is this the year the Knights take the next step?

7. SANTA MARGARITA: The county’s top freshman last season, Tori Anderson, headlines a group of returners, including fellow guard Morgan McMullen and 6-3 junior center Taylor Donohue. The Eagles could be primed for their first winning record in Trinity League play since 2009-2010.

8. FAIRMONT PREP: The Huskies put together a 26-5 record, were six points away from a CIF-SS Division 4A title last year and appear to be improved. Cornell-bound senior guard Samantha Clement returns, as does standout sophomore point guard Tristen Rollon, but Fairmont will also have an increased frontcourt presence this year in 6-foot forward Cierra Hall, a transfer who led Cypress in scoring last season.

9. ORANGE LUTHERAN: The Lancers have lost seven players and four starters from last year’s team that went 20-8, but will have a young group of underclassmen who will improve as the season progresses. Gloria Bates, a first-team All-Trinity League selection last year, should be a focal point.

10. TESORO: The Titans appear to be the class of the South County public schools with proven scorer Priya Prasad and double-double machine Kasey Smit. Junior guard Suhansi Perera will also help the cause as Tesoro looks to improve on its 17-11 record from last season.

Also considered: Edison, San Clemente, Los Alamitos, Rosary, Huntington Beach, Corona del Mar.

MORE FROM THE OCVARSITY GIRLS BASKETBALL PREVIEW ’14-15:

TOP 10 PLAYERS TO WATCH

OTHER PLAYERS TO WATCH

NO COCO, BUT JSERRA HAS HOUSE, LOTS OF CONFIDENCE

IMPORTANT DATES FOR 2014-15

Contact the writer: jbalan@ocregister.com