It’s a practice for the Marquez Excessive soccer group to lift a black Gladiators flag up the stadium pole after every victory.
Think about how usually that flag may very well be raised every time Elyjah Staples, the college’s star exterior linebacker, earned an A on his report card? That’s the one grade he’s gotten in three years of courses, irrespective of taking Chemistry, Algebra 2 or Superior Placement U.S. Historical past.
He appears to be in a private competitors to maintain getting A’s together with sacks on the Huntington Park faculty.
“He’s one among a form,” coach Rudy Fortiz mentioned. “Simply his management. ‘Hey, you’re doing this mistaken.’ Everybody follows. No matter he desires to do, he’s going to place his thoughts to it.”
Final season, as a sophomore in his first 12 months taking part in highschool soccer, Staples had 13 sacks. He additionally performed volleyball, basketball and ran observe. Now he’s 6 toes 3, 205 kilos, solely 16 years previous, has a soccer scholarship supply from Stanford and needs to be his faculty’s valedictorian in 2027. Older brother Ezavier Staples performs receiver for UCLA.
He’s on his approach to changing into as synonymous with Marquez as former basketball standout Mitchell Butler was for attending tiny Oakwood in North Hollywood earlier than happening to UCLA and the NBA.
Wherever the 16-year-old Staples walks on campus, he’s acknowledged. He loves taking part and welcoming strangers and buddies alike. It makes excellent sense as a freshman he determined to take a 12 months off from taking part in soccer and joined the cheer squad. That’s a part of his outgoing persona. Then he had a change of coronary heart when the soccer group was struggling.
“I noticed everybody on the market and I used to be like, ‘I’ve to get again to this pleasure.’ And so they have been shedding. I used to be, ‘I received to get on the market to do one thing,’” Staples mentioned.
Final week in opposition to La Puente, he caught 4 landing passes and made 10 tackles with two sacks. He has 5 sacks on the season and leads the group with 15 receptions for 517 yards and 10 touchdowns.
He’s completely comfy and assured sticking with Marquez (4-1) and taking part in within the Metropolis Part regardless of his rising recognition as a future school athlete.
“The No. 1 motive is group,” he mentioned. “I’m actually large on how I’m handled. I really feel I’m very liked on campus. I like the lecturers. The academics are versatile.”
His educational success is a household custom and requirement. “I regarded as much as my brothers and so they saved having good grades and my mother is strict,” he mentioned. “She informed my coaches, ‘If his grades aren’t up there, his sports activities stuff is lower off.’”
Staples performs in so many sports activities at Marquez that followers get to see him carry out all 12 months lengthy.
“I hear ‘Staples’ so much from the stands,” he mentioned. “I’m all the time taking part in sports activities. Every time they see me, it’s Staples, Staples, Staples.”
That feels like a future NIL alternative sponsored by Staples, the workplace provide firm.
Marquez faces a tricky problem from Eagle Rock, a passing group, on Friday night time. Quarterback Liam Pasten is thought to make use of his athleticism to create alternatives, so will probably be enjoyable to see how he offers with Staples making an attempt to chase him down.
Staples definitely makes it clear soccer has turn into his sport of alternative.
“It’s the thrill and being on the market with my teammates and being like a household. That is my household now,’’ he mentioned.
