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A resurgent standout player. A new interior presence. A new head coach. Same lofty expectations.
Mater Dei’s girls basketball program has experienced several changes in the offseason but remains an Orange County powerhouse entering the 2024-25 season.
When the Monarchs tip off their campaign in Hawaii in about three weeks, they’ll look different but certainly formidable.
Iowa committed point guard Addison Deal, who missed most of last season with an ankle injury, will be back.
Jody Wynn, an assistant last winter, will be the coach. She replaces longtime coach Kevin Kiernan, who remains an athletic director.
There are questions about post play after the graduation of O.C. player of the year Jenessa Cotton (Duke) but Mater Dei aims to contend in the CIF-SS Open Division with reigning state champion Etiwanda and rising Ontario Christian among others.
“We’re definitely seen as the underdogs (against those schools) but I completely believe in our team,” Deal said. “We definitely have a really good chance of winning everything this year. We’re just really excited to get started and just play and show everyone what we can do.”
The team’s dynamic will feature returning All-County forward Kaeli Wynn playing for her mother as a head coach.
“It’s spicy,” the junior said with a smile of playing for her mother, a former women’s collegiate coach at Washington and Long Beach State. “It’s fun. It’s new. It has its good days. It has its bad days. It’s different for me.”
“She’s really good for our team,” Kaeli Wynn added. “She’s the best person to prepare us all for college.”
For her part, Jody Wynn said she will look to build off the legacy set by Kiernan, the state’s all-time leader in victories. Mater Dei reached the Open Division semifinals last season and finished 25-8.
“We’ve all taken (the coaching change) well,” said senior Devyn Kiernan, one of Kevin Kiernan’s daughters.
In addition to Deal, the team features collegiate commits in Amaya Williams (Grand Canyon) and Kiernan (Southern Utah). All three seniors are versatile guards.
Sophomore Harmony Golightly and Sonora transfer Amiah Lewis are other guards to watch for a team that could excel in transition offense.
The questions will be in the post but there are options. There’s Nohe’alani Stores, a 6-foot-2 senior from Milpitas in Northern California, and 6-foot-2 sophomore Stella Hoss.
“That will be a big change,” Williams said of playing without Cotton. “Nessa was a big part of our offense, defense, everything. She was a main factor on our team and missing her will be a lot.”
“But this year, we have some newcomers and I think they’ll be good for the team,” she added.
SHORT SHOTS
The Villa Park/Portola Kickoff Classic starts Nov. 18 with JSerra and San Clemente among others. …
Improving Villa Park returns four starters and could start five juniors. The Spartans also have a strong freshman in Lauren Wolfe. …
The Troy Classic will run Dec. 2-7 and include Mater Dei, Fairmont Prep and Ontario Christian among others. …
Esperanza will host a showcase to honor late youth player Maya Enomoto on Dec. 14. Mater Dei will play Sage Hill to highlight a six-game lineup. …
Mater Dei will host a new event — the Kiernan Klassic — on Jan. 4. The Denning Play4Kay event will be Jan. 11. …
Canyon has several transfers, including sisters Legacy and Cori Benjamin from Ontario Christian. They are the daughters of former NBA player Corey Benjamin. Zulymar Velazquez, a transfer from Northwood, projects as the point guard, Comanches coach Sara Brown said. …
Rosary will host a showcase on Martin Luther King Day on Jan. 20, Royals co-coach Leslie Aragon said.
O.C. PRESEASON TOP 10
1. Mater Dei: The Monarchs return several strong guards but will have a new look in the post. Transfer Nohe’alani Stores is a candidate to watch in the paint but her hardship eligibility case is pending with the CIF Southern Section.
2. Sage Hill: The Lightning will need to make some early adjustments after the recent departure of sisters Mei-Ling and Aoki Perry. The Princeton committed senior and freshman provided valuable depth but left for La Jolla Country Day, Lightning coach Kerwin Walters said.
3. Fairmont Prep: The Huskies return sharp-shooter Adyra Rajan and 6-foot-2 post Sarah Aldeguer — both juniors — to a mix that added Orangewood Academy transfer Maria Mejia.
4. San Clemente: The Tritons are on the rise with some key returners and the addition of transfers Quinsey Bryan (Crean Lutheran) and Andrea Rico (Capistrano Valley Christian). Bryan will observe the sitout period. The team features good height and balance.
5. JSerra: Watch out for the young Lions. They return the entire starting unit from their CIF-SS Division 3A championship team and have added two transfers who were All-County last season. High-scoring Kayla Rice arrives from Dana Hills and post Vivian Grenald from Orangewood Academy. Rice will observe the sitout period.
6. Buena Park: The Coyotes still look solid despite the departure of All-County players Bella Harmon and Alana White for St. Joseph. Senior guards Gloria Barrera and Mya Barnes return as veteran scorers. Point guard Hannah Fuentes is back from a knee injury but her minutes will be monitored.
7. Portola: The Bulldogs appear well-balanced with perimeter shooters in Nina Saiki and Kara Niho to compliment the inside presence of Amelia Booth and Bianca Morrell. Saiki and Niho combined for 148 3-pointers last season. Maddy Nguyen, a transfer from Crean Lutheran, will strengthen the defense after she observes the sitout period.
8. Esperanza: The Aztecs lost All-County point guard Madi Lam to Santa Margarita but could maintain their cohesive play under coach Jimmy Valverde. They’re projected to start the Miyatake and Muller twins with athletic forward Ellie Frazier.
9. Orange Lutheran: The retooling Lancers face an early question with guard Kelly Garrity. The senior is dealing with a knee injury so the squad might not be full-strength at the start of the season. Junior post Emalynn Vong is a key returner and will team with improving sophomores Lexi Joko and Jocelyn Thompson and three strong freshmen.
10. El Dorado: The Golden Hawks have several talented guards with the return of Bianca Carter and Delaney Shiring, and the addition of Orangewood Academy transfer Kennedy Wood. Sofia Shine is a post to watch. The Crestview League looks tough but El Dorado is on the rise.
Also considered: Canyon; Crean Lutheran; Rosary; San Juan Hills; Sonora; Villa Park
TOP 10 PLAYERS TO WATCH
Gloria Barrera, Buena Park: The 5-foot-8 senior guard just knows how to score. She averaged a team-high 19.9 points last season and added 8.1 rebounds.
Addison Deal, Mater Dei: The Iowa committed guard is back after missing most of her junior season with an ankle injury. The 6-foot Deal was The Register’s player of the year in 2023.
Vivian Grenald, JSerra: The 6-foot-2 transfer to Orangewood Academy will be fascinating to watch. As a freshman, she led the Spartans in scoring (13.9) and rebounding (9.0) but needs to fit with a team that returns five starters and added Kayla Rice from Dana Hills.
Micaela Hanning, Crean Lutheran: The transfer from Calvary Chapel is an explosive point guard who can strike from the perimeter and drive to the basket. The 5-foot-6 senior also brings the energy on defense.
Amalia Holguin, Sage Hill: The 5-foot-9 junior point guard carries on the Mambas’ legacy at Sage Hill after four alumni of Kobe Bryant’s youth team graduated. Look for Holguin’s scoring average of 12.4 last season to rise significantly.
Maria Mejia, Fairmont Prep: The senior transfer from Orangewood Academy will see action at point guard, Huskies coach Josh Lozano said. The 6-foot Mejia could be an excellent choice with her passing skills and height. She decommitted from Seattle last month.
Adyra Rajan, Fairmont Prep: Rajan, a 5-foot-9 junior guard, is one of the most dangerous shooters in the county. Last season, she averaged 19.9 points and sank a county-leading 113 3-pointers
Rosie Santos, JSerra: The 5-foot-5 point guard plays bigger than her size and it shows in her all-around game. A gifted jumper, the sophomore averaged almost six rebounds last season to go along with 13.1 points and 5.1 assists.
Anna Shreeve, San Juan Hills: The 5-foot-8 senior forward is committed to Utah Valley. Arguably the county’s top leaper, she averaged 19.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and an eye-popping 4.5 steals last season. Shreeve is especially effective defending in the full-court press.
Kaeli Wynn, Mater Dei: The 6-foot-1 junior forward made considerable strides last season averaging 14.9 points and 6.0 rebounds. She’s a potent perimeter shooter but also crafty around the basket. Wynn also has strong leadership skills.
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