It’s a practice for the Marquez Excessive soccer workforce to lift a black Gladiators flag up the stadium pole after every victory.
Think about how typically that flag could possibly 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 college.
“He’s one of a kind,” coach Rudy Fortiz mentioned. “Just his leadership. ‘Hey, you’re doing this wrong.’ Everyone follows. Whatever he wants to do, he’s going to put his mind 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 monitor. Now he’s 6 ft 3, 205 kilos, solely 16 years previous, has a soccer scholarship provide from Stanford and desires to be his college’s valedictorian in 2027. Older brother Ezavier Staples performs receiver for UCLA.
He’s on his method to changing into as synonymous with Marquez as former basketball standout Mitchell Butler was for attending tiny Oakwood in North Hollywood earlier than occurring 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 pals alike. It makes good 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 character. Then he had a change of coronary heart when the soccer workforce was struggling.
“I saw everyone out there and I was like, ‘I have to get back to this excitement.’ And they were losing. I was, ‘I got to get out there to do something,’” Staples mentioned.
Final week towards La Puente, he caught 4 landing passes and made 10 tackles with two sacks. He has 5 sacks on the season and leads the workforce with 15 receptions for 517 yards and 10 touchdowns.
He’s completely snug 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 reason is community,” he mentioned. “I’m really big on how I’m treated. I feel I’m very loved on campus. I love the academics. The teachers are flexible.”
His educational success is a household custom and requirement. “I looked up to my brothers and they kept having good grades and my mom is strict,” he mentioned. “She told my coaches, ‘If his grades aren’t up there, his sports stuff is cut 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’ a lot from the stands,” he mentioned. “I’m always playing sports. Whenever they see me, it’s Staples, Staples, Staples.”
That appears like a future NIL alternative sponsored by Staples, the workplace provide firm.
Marquez faces a tricky problem from Eagle Rock, a passing workforce, on Friday evening. Quarterback Liam Pasten is understood to make use of his athleticism to create alternatives, so it will likely be enjoyable to see how he offers with Staples attempting to chase him down.
Staples definitely makes it clear soccer has grow to be his sport of selection.
“It’s the joy and being on the market with my teammates and being like a household. That is my household now,’’ he mentioned.
