Katie Lou Samuelson from Mater Dei in Santa Ana, Calif., is the American Family Insurance ALL-USA Player of the Year (Photo: Kelvin Kuo, USA TODAY Sports)
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VIDEO: Meet the ALL-USA First Team
PLAYER PROFILE
Name: Katie Lou Samuelson
School: Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif.
Year: Senior
Position: Forward
Height: 6-3
College: Signed with Connecticut.
Details: Averaged 29.1 points, 8.5 rebounds while leading team to 31-3 record and runner-up finish in state Open Division Championship.
Toughest opponent: Probably my sister Karlie (a sophomore guard at Stanford) because we’ve played so many times.
Super power I’d like to have: Being able to teleport.
Biggest basketball influence: My dad. He got me into the sport and taught me how to shoot.
High point of the season: Winning the Nike Tournament of Champions in Arizona.
Favorite musician: Beyonce.
Favorite book: To Kill a Mockingbird.
Favorite teacher: My math teacher, Mr. (Robert) Valeriote. He works really well with all the students.
Hidden talent: I can juggle three basketballs.
My teammates say: Probably that I am the biggest goofball on the team but I can still be serious.
First car: I don’t have my license yet. My driving skills are not very good, but they’re not super bad. I don’t parallel park.
Biggest thing I’ve overcome: A couple of years ago at one of my club tournaments, we found out my uncle (Mikey) passed away (in 2011). Having to play through that was difficult. He was only in his 40s.
Last movie I cried while watching: The Fault in our Stars. I just watched it a couple of months ago.