Ten top former Mater Dei and IMG Academy athletes

By Danny Vietti Sep 20, 2018, 12:00am

Heading into Friday's national football showdown, Mater Dei and IMG Academy both boast impressive alma-mater lists.

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If the list of FBS talent on the field between No. 2 Mater Dei and fifth-ranked IMG Academy Friday night isn't impressive enough, consider their alumni.

Many of them might just be on the sideline or in the stands Friday at the Santa Ana Bowl. 

Here is a list of 10 from each school. Which has the more impressive list? 



IMG ACADEMY

Anfernee Simons — Class of 2018
The No. 1 ranked combo-guard in the nation was the 24th overall pick of the 2018 draft by the Portland Trail Blazers. He trained at IMG Academy and played on their post-graduate squad.

Isaac Nauta — Class of 2016
The 5-star and top-rated tight end from his class is the starting tight end for the Georgia Bulldogs. The junior was a freshman All-American in 2016 and is already projected as a first-round draft pick in the 2019 NFL draft.
Kellen Mond, IMG Academy
Kellen Mond, IMG Academy
File photo by Louis Lopez
Kellen Mond - Class of 2016
Now entering his second season as the starter for Texas A&M, Mond set the IMG Academy season records for both passing touchdowns and rushing touchdowns in 2016.

Shea Patterson — Class of 2016
Currently the starting quarterback for Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan Wolverines, the 5-star recruit accounted for 140 touchdowns during his high school career.

Deondre Francois — Class of 2015
The dual-threat quarterback threw for more than 4,650 yards and 47 touchdowns in his time with the Ascenders and is currently entering his third season as the starter for Florida State.
Bo Scarborough, IMG Academy
Bo Scarborough, IMG Academy
File photo by Marc Estrada
Bo Scarbrough — Class of 2014
A seventh round pick of the Dallas Cowboys, the 230-pound running back became a two-time national champion at Alabama.

Dwight Powell — Class of 2010
The 5-star basketball recruit averaged better than 23 points and 11 rebounds for IMG, before playing for seasons at Stanford. He was drafted by the Hornets and played the last four seasons with the Dallas Mavericks.

Paula Creamer — Enrolled in 2000
The former prep star at Amador Valley (Pleasanton, Calif.) enrolled at IMG's Pendleton's School which vaulted her soon to the LPGA tour, where she has won 10 events and been ranked as No. 2 player in the world.

Maria Sharapova - Enrolled in 1994
Often regarded as one of the best female tennis players of the 2000's, Sharapova enrolled at IMG at the age of 9.



Andre Agassi — Enrolled in 1983
At age 13, Agassi's family sent him to IMG Academy for tennis, and by 16 he had turned pro. That jump-started a career into a sport that he is considered one of the greatest of all-time. He claimed 60 career titles, including eight grand slam crowns. 

MATER DEI

JT Daniels — Class of 2018
The MaxPreps 2017 National Football Player of the year threw for 12,014 career yards and 152 touchdowns in his illustrious three-year career at Mater Dei. As a junior, he led the Monarchs to a national championship before reclassifying to senior status. He became the first true freshman since Barkley to be named starting quarterback at USC.

Amon-Ra St. Brown — Class of 2018
The 2017 MaxPreps All-American wide receiver hauled in 154 career passes for 2,922 yards and 44 touchdowns before joining Daniels at USC, where he is currently the team's to pass catcher.
Katie Lou Samuelson, Mater Dei
Katie Lou Samuelson, Mater Dei
File photo by Louis Lopez
Katie Lou Samuelson — Class of 2015
The record-breaking 6-3 shooting forward was a McDonald's All-American, before enrolling at Connecticut. The two-time ACC Player of the Year enters her senior season with a career scoring average of 16.1 points per game.

Stanley Johnson — Class of 2014
A 2013-14 MaxPreps Player of the Year was the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year for Arizona before being selected as the No. 3 overall NBA pick by the Detroit Pistons in 2015.

Ryan McMahon — Class of 2013
An infielder on the baseball team and quarterback in football, McMahon was a two-sport star for the Monarchs before being drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the second round in 2013. He was called up to the big squad in 2017, but he earned SportsCenter status with back-to-back walk-off home runs over the Dodgers last month.

Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis — Class of 2011
Fresh off a 2018 WNBA championship with the Seattle Storm, Mosqueda-Lewis was named the 2011 MaxPreps Female Athlete of the Year after leading the Monarchs to a 123-7 career record and two state championships across four seasons.
Matt Barkley, Mater Dei
Matt Barkley, Mater Dei
File photo by Kirby Lee
Matt Barkley — Class of 2008
The first freshman to be named starting quarterback in the program, Barkley threw for 9,471 career yards and 79 touchdowns and was the Gatorade National Athlete of the Year as a junior. He went on to start four seasons at USC and played for five NFL teams over six seasons. He's currently a free agent. 



Matt Leinart — Class of 2001
One of the most successful alumni in Mater Dei history, the 2004 Heisman Trophy winner went on to play in the NFL for six seasons, suiting up for the Cardinals, Texans, and Raiders.

Mike Hopkins — Class of 1988
A member of the 1987 Mater Dei state basketball championship team, Hopkins went on to assist Jim Boeheim at Syracuse and was named the Washington Huskies head coach in March.

John Huarte — Class of 1961
The quarterback was the first Monarch to win a Heisman Trophy, taking the prize as college football's top player in 1964 for Notre Dame.