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 2023 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.
Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa of
St. John Bosco (Bellflower) is the 2023 MaxPreps California High School Football Player of the Year. The 6-foot-3, 230-pound senior linebacker led the Braves to an 11-2 record and eighth consecutive season finishing ranked in the top 10 of the MaxPreps Top 25 national rankings.
St. John Bosco finished No. 7 with notable wins over St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), St. Frances Academy (Baltimore), Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita), Servite (Anaheim), Mater Dei (Santa Ana), Orange Lutheran (Orange), San Clemente and Centennial (Corona).
MaxPreps California Player of the Year Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa is taking his talents to Notre Dame. (Photo: Antoine Belote)
Viliamu-Asa recorded a team-high 114 tackles and 13 tackles for loss. He added 1.5 sacks and a 38-yard pick-six to go with three touchdown receptions on offense.
The Braves handed Mater Dei (Santa Ana) its first shutout loss since 2011 with a 28-0 win during the regular season. In that contest, Viliamu-Asa racked up a team-high 11 tackles.
In a 43-42 win over Centennial (Corona) in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 semifinals, Viliamu-Asa had a season-high 18 tackles. Against St. Thomas Aquinas, he dominated posting nine tackles and two tackles for loss in a 20-7 win.
Viliamu-Asa piled up 225 tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks and two interceptions in his final two seasons at Bosco, helping the Braves win state and national titles as a junior.
Regarded as one of the top linebacker prospects in the country by
247Sports, Viliamu-Asa committed to Notre Dame in July.
Each state's MaxPreps Player of the Year will be considered for inclusion in the MaxPreps All-America Team.
Past MaxPreps California Players of the Year
2021 — Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Servite (Anaheim)
2022 — Roderick Robinson, RB, Lincoln (San Diego)
