Sol-Jay Maiava has been busy building his football resume in Washington, D.C.
The former Kahuku star — who is a three-star recruit committed to play for BYU — is the senior starting quarterback for the St. John’s College High School Cadets, and they are playing a grueling 2019 schedule.
Maiava starred for the Red Raiders here in Hawaii as a freshman and sophomore, twice leading them to the Open Division state championship game, including a 31-28, last-minute loss to Saint Louis in 2017.
For the last two years, he’s been at the helm of the offense for the Cadets (5-4). The team plays its 2019 regular-season finale against D.C. rival Gonzaga on Saturday.
A year ago, St. John’s topped the Eagles 34-17 in the regular season, but lost to them in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference playoffs. That was the Cadets’ only blemish in a 9-1 season.
This year, it’s a whole different ballgame with a grind of a schedule.
Despite being just a bit over .500, the Cadets are ranked No. 25 in the MaxPreps.com Xcellent 25. Maiava, unofficially, has 12 TDs passing and three rushing.
Last weekend’s win over DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) was a big one, and it came down to an interception on the St. John’s 3-yard line with 12 seconds left.
“It was going to come down to this, we knew that,” Maiava told the Washington Post. “We knew we just had to finish.”
The Cadets tough schedule that includes games against seven highly ranked teams in the nation and six teams from other areas of the country looks like this:
>> Southridge (Miami, Fla.), W 48-0
>> Deerfield Beach (Deerfield Beach, Fla.), W 52-30
>> At St. Joseph Prep (Philadelphia), L 34-30
— MaxPreps Xcellent 25: No. 19.
>> At Duncanville (Duncanville, Tex.), L, 35-14
— MaxPreps Xcellent 25: No. 3.
>> IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), L, 35-20
— MaxPreps Xcellent 25: No. 14.
>> Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), L, 53-24
— MaxPreps Xcellent 25: No. 1.
>> Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.), W, 45-7
>> Our Lady of Good Counsel (Olney, Md.), W 34-31
>> DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.), W, 24-20
>> Gonzaga, (Washington, D.C.) Saturday
— MaxPreps Xcellent 25: 21.
According to USA Today, Maiava may compete for the starting quarterback position at BYU as soon as next year. USA Today also calls St. John’s “the DC football factory” and that the Cadets are “easily the best .500 team in the country.”
247 Sports lists Maiava as having offers from Fresno State, Hawaii, Liberty and Michigan aside from the one from BYU. The one from the Wolverines came from coach Jim Harbaugh at a camp on Oahu when Maiava was in eighth grade.
Maiava left Hawaii to get more exposure and he ends up at non-power 5 and mediocre BYU? That final list of schools offering is pretty underwhelming and that Michigan offer probably cooled off a lot since his 8th grade year and was probably some publicity stunt.
Jayden de Laura has offers from Wazzu, USC and Ohio St. D. Gabriel had one from Georgia. Tua could have chosen to go to any school he wanted too.
Sometimes the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.
If Jay den DE laura played the schedule that Sol Jay did, no way they be in top 20. Their biggest threat, Bishop Gorman is like 23 rank. Sol Jay played 3 top 10 teams and 2 top 25. Lol. Playing and beating waianae, farrington,Kamehameha and campbell, smh. Marcus, past tense, Tua sore leg. Funny the St.Louis love boys always come on these Kahuku pages to bash. Lol.
Honestly, I love this kid, but he probably would’ve been better off staying out West, especially since he hasn’t wavered from his commitment to BYU. He did get exposure out East, but this top notch schedule exposed him too. From what I’ve seen, his passing skill set hasn’t improved all that much. He more than likely has a stronger arm than DeLaura, but DeLaura is a way better passer. Maiava only has 12 passing touchdowns this year; and trust me, it’s not like his team is lacking on the oline, receiver corps or in the backfield. Some people might say that it’s the coaches who need to coach him up, but they can only do so much. He does have tons of talent, but he needs to continue to grind if he wants to be a starting qb at the next level. Wishing him the best of luck!! RRFL!!!
He made the Elite 11 finals. I’m not sure that would have been the case if he stayed at Kahuku. He is a good kid and BYU is an excellent education. Good luck Sol-Jay!
He’s got skills, no doubt, and yes, BYU is an excellent education choice. But honestly, if he really was that good, he should have many more offers, regardless of his verbal to BYU. Assuming Zach Wilson stays healthy for the rest of his BYU career, Sol-Jay will more than likely ride the bench for 2 years. Being a UH alum, I can’t stand BYU, but Zach Wilson, when he’s healthy, is fun to watch.
I do wish Sol-Jay the Best, and who knows, maybe more offers will roll in later.
RRFL!!
Good luck Sol Jay! Keep grinding and work hard.
I’m anti-Kahuku because I think Maiava should have stayed and played for Kahuku? Someone’s missing a logic gene.
No you anti Kahuku because you spouting about you DE laura being better. Lol, everyone knows that st.lulu hates kahuku, because we pound you in the mouf. Lulu love puppet.
“Coach” Lou has self-esteem and reading comprehension issues. Missed the point that one doesn’t have to go away to get noticed by big time programs. Missed that I mentioned Dillon Gabriel of Mililani as an example of a local product who stayed home and got offers. Thinks I’m a Saint Louis fan boy although I’ve never posted about the Crusaders before. Lou’s rants and paranoia might be tied to his insecurity in regards to the Red Raider program. Thanks.
De Laura getting the SC and Ohio State offers were rather circumstantial. Mater Dei QB Bryce Young de-committed from SC earlier, so de Laura was the next man up. Ohio State already has a 4-star QB commit in the 2020 class, so they offered de Laura to add to the competition. Not to take anything away from him though, as those programs won’t offer him a scholarship if he wasn’t worthy. He’ll probably still go to Wazzou as long as Mike Leach stays there. Gabriel getting a scholarship from UCF has a lot to do with McKenzie Milton.
HPW can’t click buttons apparently either; if you click on “view complete list” on 247, Maiava apparently has offers from Oregon, Utah, Purdue, Virginia, and USU.
It’s hard to compare two HS QBs playing different offensive schemes. St. John’s has arguably the toughest schedule in the entire nation, while St. Louis beating Bishop Gorman is impressive in itself. But I’m skeptical if Maiava could have developed at Kahuku considering they haven’t had a QB at the D1 level, let alone a passing QB in so, so many years. Linemen should stay home, but “skill” position players still need to think about which programs would be best fit for them if they want to go the next level.
In my opinion, Sol-Jay should have stayed home instead of moving. Whomever persuaded him to move on was mistaken in thinking that being exposed on the East Coast would boost his popularity and opportunities. However, since he’s been exposed to playing tougher teams that are ranked in the top 10, it has enhanced his skills, attitude and mindset for the game. Best Wishes and Food Luck!
Why are we still talking about him? He’s been gone for 2 years already he’s done associating with Hawaii sports. Gave that up when the family moved. Our focus is Hawaii qbs. I don’t understand what he has to do with the current focus of our qbs that are playing. No disrespect to him, just he’s not playing in Hawaii and this forum is called Hawaii prep world
Hey, instead of ragging on the kid, wish him well. He still from 808.
Im not one to come on here and get in the middle of these comments, but someone shared it with me and when it comes to peoples negative opinions about kids doing great things, it will bother me unless I share my opinion too.
Whether he is a Red Raider or not, I am proud of him and every single kid out here working their butts off to get a FREE education.
We all forget that the goal for these kids is to go to college/trade school/vocational school/Armed services/Entrepreneurship, or whatever route it is that they choose, or are presented with that will allow them the opportunity to have a better quality of life…
We need to stop comparing scholarships, and CELEBRATE the fact that our youth of Hawaii are earning opportunities.
Like I always tell my student-athletes ANY SCHOLARSHIP in ANY DIVISION is an AMAZING ACCOMPLISHMENT & OFFER. You can get an offer to a JUCO and end up getting picked up by a 4 year school, and still make it to the league if that’s what you want.
Regardless what they moved for, its not our business. I’m just happy another family from the islands is doing awesome and another island grown kid is doing something productive and making something of himself.
I AM SO PROUD OF EVERY KID IN HAWAII REGARDLESS WHAT SCHOOL THEY GRADUATE FROM. WHETHER THEY MAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL, OR THEIR JUST DOING SOMETHING TO BETTER THEMSELVES TO BE THE FUTURE LEADERS WE NEED.
CONGRATS TO SOLJAY AND ALL OF OUR HOMEGROWN STUDENT-ATHLETES ON THEIR OFFERS. YOU ALL REPRESENT AND MAKE HAWAII PROUD!!! <3 _\,,/
Well said.
Sure red raiders for life.
As a Saint Louis grad I gotta say I’m very impressed with what Sol-jay has accomplished in his high school career. If you don’t feel proud of this local boy leading one of the top programs in the country shame on you.
There’s a reason why we call our elders uncle and Aunty. It goes both ways. Our keiki should be treated the same. If he was your nephew you should only ant the best for him. Good luck to you in your future!
@Dafun
Yes RR4L. Something you would never understand.
Why stay at a school that’s not going to let you throw the ball?