DJ Uiagalelei named MaxPreps Polynesian Bowl All-Star Player of the Year

The No. 1 rated QB from the Class of 2020 is the California Gatorade Football Player of the Year after leading the Braves to a 13-1 record and throwing for 3,366 yards and 48 touchdowns. He also rushed for 312 yards and six more scores.

Uiagalelei was one of 10 players nominated for the award, and, along with Rakim Jarrett, was the only non-senior to make the cut. Four of the eight selected — Puka Nacua, Faatui Tuitele, Henry To'oto'o and Taulia Tagovailoa — are all up for the 2018 Polynesian High School Player of the Year Award that will be announced on January 18. The other four nominees included DeMarcco Hellams, Ishmael Sopsher, Jirehl Brock and Jacob Conover. 

The scary thing is there's a good chance Uiagalelei could win the award next season during his senior season. His numbers would have been even more eye-popping during his junior campaign but he sat out the majority of the second half of the Braves' many lopsided victories. Uiagalelei threw for at least three touchdowns in 10-of-14 games and ended the year completing nearly 70 percent of his passes and had a quarterback rating of 140.4.

Only players selected for the 2019 or 2020 Polynesian Bowl were up for this year's award. The Polynesian Bowl is quickly becoming the fastest growing events in high school athletics and the 2019 Polynesian Bowl will be televised live on the CBS Sports Network on Jan. 19. The Pittsburgh Steelers' JuJu Smith-Schuster and Detroit Lions' Haloti Ngata will serve as honorary captains and former Oregon Ducks' head coach Mike Bellotti along with former Washington Redskins' head coach Jim Zorn are the coaches for the event.