Each year since 2006, MaxPreps has recognized outstanding performers in high school football. America's source for high school sports continues the tradition to close out the 2024 season by naming the top player in each state. Selections are based on team success and individual excellence in addition to local and state accolades.
Cayden Pili of
Dimond (Anchorage) is the 2024 MaxPreps Alaska High School Football Player of the Year. The 5-foot-11, 175-pound junior quarterback and defensive back helped the Lynx go 11-0 and capture the Division I state championship — the school's first since 2001.
Pili led Dimond to a 14-7 win over West Anchorage (Anchorage) in the state title game, the second win of the season over the defending champions. He threw for 108 yards and a touchdown to go with 86 yards on the ground and another score in frigid weather conditions.
During the regular season meeting, Pili led the Lynx to their first win over West Anchorage since 2014. He threw for 178 yards and a touchdown to go with 106 yards rushing and three more scores in a 29-12 win. He added 12 tackles and a tackle for loss on defense.
Pili helped the Lynx notch their first playoff win in nine years with a 40-23 victory over Colony (Palmer) in the quarterfinals. He threw for 114 yards and a score with most of his damage coming on the ground rushing for 171 yards and three touchdowns. A week later in the semifinals he accounted for 216 yards of total offense and five touchdowns in a 36-6 win over Bartlett (Anchorage).
Pili finished his junior campaign throwing for 1,744 yards and 18 touchdowns while adding 950 yards rushing and 22 more scores. He piled up 37 tackles, two tackles for loss and one interception on defense.
His older sister
Alissa Pili was named the MaxPreps Female National Athlete of the Year in 2018 and 2019. She was selected eighth overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Minnesota Lynx. His older brother,
Brandon Pili, became the first Alaskan player to make an NFL roster in nearly a decade when he made the 53-man roster for the Miami Dolphins in 2023.
Past MaxPreps Alaska Players of the Year
2020 — Jordan Holland, WR/DB, Bettye Davis East Anchorage (Anchorage)
2021 — Kyler Johnson, QB, Bettye Davis East Anchorage (Anchorage)
2022 — Jack Nash, QB/S, Colony (Palmer)
2023 — Aaron Hampton, WR/LB, West Anchorage (Anchorage)
