SI tabs Mater Dei, L.B. Poly among country’s top high school programs

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The latest issue of Sports Illustrated features its annual list of the top-10 high school sports programs in the country and for all 50 states. A couple of Southland schools did pretty well for themselves.

Mater Dei is ranked second after being ranked seventh last year. SI says of the Monarchs: ’19 seniors earn D-I scholarships, while quarterback and USC signee Matt Barkley, pictured, became the first non-senior to win Gatorade Football Player of the Year honors.... Barkley isn’t the Monarchs’ only high-profile junior; twin forwards Travis and David Wear starred for the state hoops titlists and are committed early to UNC.’

Long Beach Poly improved to sixth after tying for 10th last season. Said SI: ‘Yes, the Jackrabbits are a perennial football power, but don’t overlook the girls’ hoopsters, who won their third straight state title behind Rutgers signee Jasmine Dixon.’

Punahou School in Honolulu was SI’s choice for the nation’s top program: ‘Counting Barack Obama (Class of ’79), Michelle Wie (’07) and Norm Chow (’64) among its athletic alumni, Punahou is rich in tradition. Sixty-two percent of the 1,732-member student body in grades nine through 12 play on at least one of 81 jayvee and varsity teams in 21 sports, and since 1958 the Buff ‘n Blue -- so named for the colors of sand and ocean -- have racked up 368 Hawaii championships. This school year saw a continuance of that athletic heritage with 16 state titles and 12 Division I recruits.’

-- Editor Bob

-- Image by Lori Shepler/Los Angeles Times