Sixth Gatorade Player of the Year from Campbell
Congratulations to Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele for winning the honor of this year’s Gatorade Player of the Year!
Gatorade Player of the Year is the top honor in high school sports, celebrating the nation’s best high school athletes for their success on the field, in the classroom and in the community. The award distinguishes Sagapolutele as Hawaii’s best high school football player, and he joins an impressive group of alumni that spans CEOs, coaches and star athletes such as Emmitt Smith (1986-87, Escambia High School, Fl.), Peyton Manning (1993- 94, Isidore Newman School, La.) and DJ Lagway (2023-24, Willis High School, Texas).
Jaron passed for 3,404 yards and 46 touchdowns this past season, leading the Sabers (9-2) to the Division I state semifinals. He also rushed for 158 yards and two scores. A 2024 Nike Elite 11 finalist, Sagapolutele concluded his prep career as leading passer in state history with 10,653 yards. He is ranked as the nation’s No. 106 recruit in the Class of 2025 by 247Sports.com.
Sagapolutele has volunteered locally as a youth football coach, mentor and flag football referee. He has also donated his time to his local church community. “Jaron is the real deal—this is the year of the quarterback in Hawaii,” said Rod York, head coach at Mililani High School. “He’s just amazing. He’s been durable, he’s been hit a lot of times and he comes right back. He’s mobile, he can scramble. He’ll buy time in the pocket, he has the uncanny ability to move around in the back there kind of like a Brett Favre or a Tom Brady, yet his eyes are always downfield.” Sagapolutele has maintained a 3.38 GPA in the classroom. At the time of his selection, he had made a verbal commitment to receive athletic aid to play football at the University of Oregon next fall.
The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states across 12 different high school sports – football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field – and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by the Gatorade Player of the Year Selection Committee, which leverages experts including coaches, scouts, media and others as sources to help evaluate and determine the state winners in each sport.
Jaron is the sixth Gatorade POY to come from Campbell. Former winners from Campbell are Taryn Irimata (Softball 2022-23), Titus Mokiao-Atimalala (Football 2020-21), Jocelyn Alo (Softball 2015-16 and 2016-17), and Katie Manuma (Softball 2009-10).
Full announcement and press release HERE