Rising Stars of the South Bay
The South Bay has emerged as a hotbed for the Class of 2027, with a dozen standout athletes announcing their college destinations this week.
Wesley Ace, a track standout from Serra, capped his high school career with a strong season on the gridiron and has pledged to San Jose State, where he hopes to translate his speed to the defensive side of the ball.
Max Bates out of Palos Verdes brings a relentless work ethic, having logged 82 tackles last year, and he will continue his career at UNLV.
Noah Clark from Inglewood posted 92 tackles and three interceptions in his junior year, earning a commitment to Washington State.
Chris Fields III, a dual‑threat quarterback‑running back from Carson, threw for 29 touchdowns and added 13 rushing scores, leading his team to the L.A. City Section title and committing to Georgetown.
Sione Finau, a 6‑7 lineman from Mary Star, anchored the Stars’ offensive line and has chosen San Diego State.
Elija Harmon, also from Inglewood, recorded five sacks in each of his first two seasons and is headed to Oklahoma.
The transfer market added intrigue: AJ McBean, a big‑bodied player who moved to Serra, has committed to Stanford; Pole Moala, who returned to Leuzinger, pledged to UCLA; and Ryan Rakowski from Palos Verdes, a standout on the Elite 11 circuit, will play at Nevada.
Myels Smith of Inglewood tallied 91 tackles and 10 sacks last season and is headed to Texas A&M; Seth Sullivan from Redondo Union has established himself as one of the top linemen in the area and will stay home at San Diego State; Hunter Taylor at Mira Costa recorded seven sacks and will serve the nation at Army; finally, Duvay Williams, a transfer from Serra to Inglewood, has committed to Cal.
Coaches and analysts alike are watching how these commitments will shape the upcoming season, noting that the concentration of talent in the South Bay could redefine regional rivalries and national rankings.