The highly anticipated football matchup between Mater Dei and St. John Bosco this Friday just became even more intriguing with the recent addition of freshman prospect Kuika Moaalii to St. John Bosco’s roster. The wide receiver and defensive end, standing at 6 feet 4 inches and weighing 218 pounds, has transferred from Bishop Montgomery, as confirmed by St. John Bosco athletic director Vince Brown.
St. John Bosco, which is currently enjoying an undefeated season with a record of 9-0 and 4-0 in league play, is ranked No. 1 in several national standings. The team will host rival Mater Dei, standing at 6-2 and ranked No. 11 nationally, as they chase the outright Trinity League title.
Moaalii has already made an impact on the field, contributing significantly to St. John Bosco’s recent 42-0 win against Servite where he recorded two receptions for 38 yards, including a touchdown. He arrived at Bishop Montgomery this fall after leaving the Buckeyes and was regarded as one of the top freshmen prospects in the region. Despite Bishop Montgomery’s cancellation of their football season due to complications, Moaalii was declared eligible to play in all sports as of October 14.
His move followed an investigation by the CIF Southern Section into violations of transfer bylaws, which affected several other students at Bishop Montgomery but did not impact Moaalii’s eligibility. This past month, Moaalii received scholarship offers from both Oregon and UCLA, indicating his rising profile in the recruiting landscape.
Recruiting analyst Greg Biggins of 247Sports emphasized Moaalii’s potential, referring to him as a “huge late addition” for St. John Bosco, noting he’s a legitimate national recruit with versatility that could see him excel as a wide receiver, safety, or linebacker.
In addition to Moaalii’s transfer, fellow freshman Hansen Makaafi from Bishop Montgomery has also made a move, transferring to Mission Viejo. With such new talent coming into play, the stakes are higher as the teams prepare to square off in this exciting matchup that promises to be a highlight of the high school football season.