USC commit Saia Mapakaitolo transfers from CA to AZ

Michael Huntley September 15, 2020 @ 12:03 AM

One of the top offensive linemen in the state has transferred to Arizona, where he will be able to play football and graduate sooner. [player_tooltip player_id="25085" first="Saia" last="Mapakaitolo"], the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/california/rankings/2021-rankings/">tenth ranked offensive linemen in California</a>, transferred from Bishop Alemany (CA) to Red Mountain High in Arizona. The 6-foot-5, 280-pound tackle had eight scholarship offers before committing to USC on May 22. His accolades include being selected to the <a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/news/yx-4VCxvk0C_6IHD_XJ1Xg/preseason-california-all-state-high-school-football-team-.htm">Preseason All-State team by MaxPreps</a>, and being selected to play in the Polynesian Bowl. Last season, Mapakaitolo played on an Alemany team that included many of the top players in the state: [player_tooltip player_id="25028" first="Miller" last="Moss"], [player_tooltip player_id="25055" first="Jaylin" last="Smith"], [player_tooltip player_id="25290" first="Floyd" last="Chalk"], [player_tooltip player_id="25082" first="DJ" last="Justice"], [player_tooltip player_id="25237" first="Ephesians" last="Prysock"], [player_tooltip player_id="25231" first="Niuafe" last="Tuihalamaka"], [player_tooltip player_id="25260" first="Rashad" last="McKenzie"] and [player_tooltip player_id="25293" first="Samiuela" last="Palu"]. Red Mountain is ranked No. 17 in the state of Arizona according to MaxPreps and lost in the 6A State Championship game last season. Mapakaitolo is now ranked the second best tackle prospect in the state of Arizona according to 247Sports, behind [player_tooltip player_id="42582" first="Bram" last="Walden"] of Saguaro. In Arizona, teams have already begun practicing and the first games are <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2020/08/aia-announces-revised-football-schedule-for-fall-2020/">scheduled for the weekend of October 1st</a>. The championship games will be held on December 11 and 12. By transferring to a high school in Arizona, Mapakaitolo will be able to play his senior season and graduate early to enroll at USC in the spring. In California, games aren’t slated to begin until early January, which would have meant that he would have had to choose between playing his senior season or enrolling in college early.