Hot Shots: Katie Lou Samuelson’s career

Mater Dei's Katie Lou Samuelson shows her frustration during a loss to Windward of Los Angeles in the CIF-SS Open Division girls basketball championship game on March 7, 2014.
Mater Dei's Katie Lou Samuelson has finished her career as one of the top high school players in Orange County history. (Some say she is the best of all time, but that is something to debate another time.) Here is a look back over her many highs, and some of the lows, from her four years of dominating play in the county.
Mater Dei senior Katie Lou Samuelson (33) and teammates are upset after losing to Chaminade of West Hills, 64-63, in the CIF-SS Open Division final at Azusa Pacific on March 6, 2015.
Mater Dei's Katie Lou Samuelson posed for photos in the school's locker room this season. The story focused on her determination to win a CIF-SS championship. The Monarchs did not win a CIF-SS title, but they still have a chance to win regional and state titles.
Mater Dei's Katie Lou Samuelson, center, takes the ball away from Alemany guard Kate Tokuhara, right, in the CIF-SS Open Division girls basketball semifinals on Feb. 27, 2015.
Mater Dei's Katie Lou Samuelson takes a shot as she warms up before a playoff game on Feb. 27, 2015.
Mater Dei's Katie Lou Samuelson drives to put up a shot against Alemany of West Hills in the CIF-SS Open Division girls basketball semifinal playoff Friday (Feb. 27, 2015).
Mater Dei's Katie Lou Samuelson drives to the basket against Brea Olinda's Tyiona Watkins during a game on Feb. 24, 2015.
Mater Dei's Katie Lou Samuelson shoots from long range during a first-round playoff game against JW North of Riverside on Feb. 18, 2015.
Mater Dei's Katie Lou Samuelson drives around Madison Washington of Bishop Gorman of Las Vegas in the Nike Extravaganza on Feb. 6, 2015.
Mater Dei's Katie Lou Samuelson has finished her career as one of the top high school players in Orange County history. (Some say she is the best of all time, but that is something to debate at another time.) Here is a look back over her many highs, and some of the lows, from her four years of dominating play in the county.
Katie Lou Samuelson lurks in the background, holding up a sign that says ‘Lou Conn,' as some of her teammates take a photo during a National Signing Day ceremony at the school on Nov. 11, 2014. Samuelson signed that morning with Connecticut, opting not to join her two sisters, Bonnie and Karlie, at Stanford.
Mater Dei's Katie Lou Samuelson attempts a shot during a CIF Southern California Regional Open Division game against Long Beach Poly on Feb. 18, 2014.
Katie Lou Samuelson was the Register's girls basketball player of the year for the second consecutive year in 2013-14. Here she poses for photos while standing on ladder under one of the baskets in the school's gym.
Mater Dei's Stanley Johnson and Katie Lou Samuelson pose for a photo after each was named the Register's player of the year for 2011-12. Samuelson was a sophomore at the time and Johnson was a junior.
Mater Dei's Katie Lou Samuelson goes up for a shot against Santiago of Corona during a 78-69 victory on March 12, 2013.
Mater Dei's Katie Lou Samuelson is upset after the Monarchs lost by one point to Etiwanda in the CIF-SS Division 1AA semifinal on Feb. 22, 2013.
Mater Dei's Katie Lou Samuelson is upset after she is called for an offensive foul during a loss to Etiwanda in the CIF-SS playoffs on Feb. 22, 2013.
Edison freshman Katie Lou Samuelson goes around St. Anthony's Nia Williams during the CIF-SS playoffs on Feb. 27, 2011.
Mater Dei's Katie Lou Samuelson hangs from the rim in the school's gym as part of a Register photo shoot. Samuelson was selected as the Register's county player of the year for 2013-14, the second year in a row she won the award.
Mater Dei basketball players, left to right, Andee Velasco, Katie Lou Samuelson, Karlie Samuelson and Khalia Lark try to take the ball from Coach Kevin Kiernan, center, during a Register photo shoot. The photos were part of the Register's girls basketball preview for the 2012-13 season.
Edison freshman Katie Lou Samuelson fights for the ball against Troy's Margaret Pugh (25) and Alecia Dimas during the second half of a agme on Feb. 28, 2012.
Troy's Erin Hitomi puts defensive pressure on Edison freshman Karlie Samuelson as she tries to get the ball across center court during a game on Feb. 28, 2012.
Edison freshman Katie Lou Samuelson goes up for a shot during the first half of a game against Troy on Jan. 18, 2012.
Mater Dei sophomore Karlie Samuelson plays defense against Oaks Christian during the second half of a game in the Nike Extravaganza at Mater Dei on Feb. 1, 2012.

August 14, 2015 at 11:01 p.m.

Katie Lou Samuelson started out her high school career as the little sister from a family full of outstanding basketball players. (OK, a little sister with a tremendous shooting touch.)

Now a senior, she is considered the top player in the nation. She has cleaned up on most of this season’s top national awards, including the Gatorade Player of the Year honor she received Thursday, and she will soon move on to playing for college powerhouse UConn.

Is she the best player in Orange County history? Will she end up being a college and WNBA standout? Those are all questions worthy of consideration at this point.

But for now, here’s a slideshow that recounts the highs and lows in her four-year high school that began at Edison and is close to ending at Mater Dei.