Video: Mater Dei vs. IMG Academy preview
Zack Poff breaks down the biggest game of the year to date.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 2018The 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 2016The 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
File photo by Louis Lopez
Kellen Mond - Class of 2016Now
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 2016Currently
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 2015The
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
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 2010The
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 2000The
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 1994Often 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 1983At 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 2018The
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 2018The
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
File photo by Louis Lopez
Katie Lou Samuelson — Class of 2015The
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 2014A
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 2013An
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 2011Fresh
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
File photo by Kirby Lee
Matt Barkley — Class of 2008The
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 2001One 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 1988A
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 1961The quarterback was
the first Monarch to win a Heisman Trophy, taking the prize as college
football's top player in 1964 for Notre Dame.