The 2018 Polynesian High School Football Player of the Year Award Watch List is out. The Polynesian Football Hall of Fame announced the 44 players on the list Thursday. The award is presented annually to the most outstanding senior high school football player of Polynesian ancestry.
“This Award showcases the immense talent of our Polynesian student-athletes.” said Jesse Sapolu, Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Chairman, Co-Founder and Inductee. “Football for Polynesians is a way of life and an opportunity to advance their educational pursuits through a college scholarship.”
POLYNESIAN HIGH SCHOOL PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD WATCH LIST
Name | Pos. | Ancestry | School |
MIKI AH YOU | LB | Samoan | Kahuku, Hawaii |
JULIUS BUELOW | OL | Tongan | Kapolei, Hawaii |
DUKE CLEMENS | OL | Hawaiian/Samoan | Punahou, Hawaii |
D’VON ELLIES | DL | Samoan | McDonogh, Md. |
TROY FAUTANU | OL | Samoan | Liberty, Nev. |
TAUSILI FIATOA | LB | Samoan | Kahuku, Hawaii |
RALEN GOFORTH | LB | Samoan | St. John Bosco, Calif. |
DANIEL HEIMULI | LB | Tongan | Menlo-Atherton, Calif. |
GEORGE HOLANI | RB | Tongan | St. John Bosco, Calif. |
SIAKI IKA | DL | Tongan | East, Utah |
NATHANIEL KALEPO | OL | Samoan | Rainier Beach, Wash. |
SITIVENI KAUFUSI | RB | Tongan | Punahou, Hawaii |
LOLANI LANGI | LB | Tongan | Bingham, Utah |
LAIATU LATU | LB | Tongan | Jesuit, Calif. |
SATAOA LAUMEA | OL | Samoan | Eisenhower, Calif. |
TREVEN MA’AE | DL | Samoan | Bishop Gorman, Nev. |
KAULANA MAKAULA | DB | Hawaiian | Punahou, Hawaii |
PUKA NACUA | WR | Samoan | Orem, Utah |
PENI NAULU | LB | Tongan | Kapolei, Hawaii |
NOA NGALU | DL | Tongan | Menlo-Atherton, Calif. |
SAMA PAAMA | DL | Samoan | Kaimuki, Hawaii |
JOSHUA PAKOLA | DL | Samoan/Tongan | St. Francis, Calif. |
ORIN PATU | LB | Samoan/Tongan | Rainier Beach, Wash. |
SIMOTE PEPA | DL | Tongan | Bingham, Utah |
NOA POLA-GATES | DB | Samoan | Williams Field, Ariz. |
MATTHEW POLA-MAO | DL | Samoan | Chandler, Ariz. |
SUAAVA POTI | DL | Samoan | St. John Bosco, Calif. |
GINO QUINONES | DL | Hawaiian/Samoan | St. Louis, Hawaii |
LOGAN SAGAPOLU | OL | Samoan | Skyridge, Utah |
EDDIE SIAUMAU | DB | Samoan | Leone, Alaska |
SHAE SUIAUNOA | QB | Samoan | Clear Lake, Texas |
JUNIOR TAFUNA | LB | Tongan | Bingham, Utah |
TAULIA TAGOVAILOA | QB | Samoan | Thompson, Ala. |
MARIST TALAVOU | OL | Samoan | St. John Bosco, Calif. |
JONAH TAUANU’U | OL | Samoan | Narbonne, Calif. |
STANLEY TAUFOOU | LB | Tongan | Grace Brethren, Calif. |
HENRY TO’OTO’O | LB | Samoan | De La Salle, Calif. |
MANINOA TUFONO | LB | Hawaiian/Samoan/Tokelauan | Punahou, Hawaii |
FAATUI TUITELE | DL | Samoan | St. Louis, Hawaii |
SIONE VAKI | WR | Tongan | Liberty, Calif. |
ENOKK VIMAHI | OL | Samoan/Tongan | Kahuku, Hawaii |
STACEY WILKINS | OL | Samoan | Camden Fairview, Ark. |
MAX WILLIAMS | DB | Hawaiian | Junipero Serra, Calif. |
USC freshman Talanoa Hufanga of Crescent Valley High School (Corvallis, OR) was selected as the inaugural recipient of the award in 2017.
Five finalists will be unveiled on December 6, 2018. The winner will be announced on January 18, 2019 during the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Week Celebration Dinner (Sheraton Waikiki) and will also be recognized at halftime of the Polynesian Bowl at Aloha Stadium.