Lokeni Toailoa receives Under Armour All-American jersey


Courtesy photo
Carter coach Alex Pierce (left) and linebacker Lokeni Toailoa at Toailoa’s jersey presentation for the Under Armour All-American game this week.

As previously reported, UCLA-bound senior Lokeni Toailoa was presented with his jersey for the Under Armour All-American Game in a ceremony at the high school.

“It was great,” coach Alex Pierce said. “As far as I know, he’s the first one from Rialto to get this. It’s quite an honor.”

It’s probably good for the Lions to get that out of the way now. Carter has a bye this week and then next week faces defending state Division II champion Redlands East Valley in the Citrus Belt League opener after getting blown out last year, 45-14. Distractions aren’t a big problem on a bye week, but on REV week, it certainly doesn’t help.

Toailoa’s 2015 season is just now getting underway for Carter (3-0). He missed most of a Week 0 win over Los Osos after he was ejected after a skirmish with an opposing player, then had to serve a one-game suspension in Week 1 vs. Rialto. Last week he was able to play more, recording seven total tackles (five solo), including two tackles for a loss in a rout of Riverside North. He also had two carries for 17 yards and a touchdown on offense.

 

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Carter’s Lokeni Toailoa to be presented with Under Armour All-American jersey

Carter 4 players photo

Carter’s Lokeni Toailoa (2nd from the right in the above photo by Will Lester), currently ranked 10th among inside linebacker recruits in the country among the class of 2016, will be part of a ceremony next week at the school.

It will take place next Tuesday, Sept. 15 at noon at the school, where he will be presented with his jersey for the Under Armor All-America Game, which will be played on Jan. 2 and televised on ESPN2.

Yes, on the surface the reason they’re doing this ceremony is to honor one of the top high school football players in the country.
But to me, there are two other reasons for the event:
1. Publicize the game in the local community to increase viewership on TV.
2. Lock the player into the game. I’m guessing it’s less likely (although not impossible) for a player to change his mind about playing in a game if he’s been presented with a jersey in advance.

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UCLA commit Lokeni Toailoa sets example on Twitter following ejection

What Carter High linebacker and UCLA commit Lokeni Toailoa did with his Twitter account should serve as an example for fellow athletes to follow.

IMG_9909.JPG

Carter High linebacker Lokeni Toailoa, third player located on the right, is committed to UCLA.

Following a call by the referee that led to the ejection of Toailoa in Friday’s game against Los Osos, which will cause him to miss Carter’s upcoming game against city-rival Rialto High, the four-star linebacker decided to remove his Twitter page.

Whether any highly recruited athlete will admit it or not, they are always under the microscope and face constant pressure because of their status and talent.

By removing oneself from a social media platform like Twitter, Toailoa avoided all drama that can come from social media users, while at the same time allowing him as a player to reflect on the situation and move forward.

Anytime I have spoken with Lokeni, he has been nothing but respectful.

While it was a bit shocking to hear he was ejected from a game, I think the way he went about handling his business off the field, with what I am assuming is a brief stint away from the website, was done honorably.

This generation’s high school athletes do not realize just how easy it is to lose a scholarship or interest from a college because of their actions. In a case like this, being poked at and responding in a particular way could be enough to lose it all.

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Could Leni Toailoa go to UCLA too?

Two Toailoas to UCLA?
Well-decorated Carter linebacker Lokeni Toailoa has already committed to UCLA. Now, his brother, Leni could be joining him there. Leni, recruited as a defensive back, received a scholarship offer to join Lokeni at UCLA this week. The brothers are both seniors at Carter, although Lokeni is older.
According to coach Alex Pierce, Leni is considering the offer, even though he had already given a verbal commitment to San Jose State back in March.

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VIDEOS: Carter’s Lokeni Toailoa picks UCLA


Carter coach Alex Pierce talks before Lokeni’s commitment


It may be hard to see on the video, but Lokeni had 2 hats in the bag: one USC and one UCLA


Lokeni Toailoa talks about picking UCLA. He showed some maturity in not getting too tied to the coaching staff, because he knows one or more of those coaches might not be around in the fall of 2016.

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Football recruiting Lokeni Toailoa, Stephen Carr, Leni Toailoa make verbal commitments

There were probably more than 100 people (family, friends, and fans) in attendance on Monday night for the event, which was put on by Ground Zero football, which trains many area football players and it was at Athletic Republic in Rancho Cucamonga, a training facility.

In the end, Carter’s Lokeni Toailoa and Great Oak Demetric Felton picked UCLA, Summit’s Stephen Carr picked USC and Carter’s Leni Toailoa chose San Jose State.

One player who wasn’t there was Summit’s Damian Alloway, who had originally said he also would make his commitment Monday, but then changed his mind. He not only didn’t make his commitment, but he chose not to attend.

 

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UPDATE: Damian Alloway not ready to make verbal commitment

UPDATE:

Summit ATH Damian Alloway stated that he will not announce his decision on Monday.

Original Post:

Fontana Summit High football player Damian Alloway will make his verbal commitment at the Athletic Republic in Ontario on Monday.

Summit High's Damian Alloway

Summit High’s Damian Alloway

Alloway, who is a junior for the Skyhawks, confirmed that he will decide between Cal, UCLA and Oregon State.

Despite making his commitment, he plans to make all his official and unofficial visits to California campuses this spring.

It was confirmed earlier in the week that Lokeni Toailoa of Carter High was going to make his verbal commitment at the same location.

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Lokeni Toailoa names top choices, will verbally commit March 23

Lokeni Toailoa

Lokeni Toailoa

Rialto Carter High linebacker Lokeni Toailoa has confirmed that he will make his verbal commitment on March 23 at the Athletic Republic in Ontario.

Toailoa has several offers but took to Twitter on Saturday to announce his list of seven schools he has interest in.

The list is in no particular order:

  • UCLA
  • Notre Dame
  • USC
  • Oregon
  • Utah
  • Washington
  • Oklahoma

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Notre Dame’s Brian Kelly and UCLA’s Jim Mora visit with San Gorgonio’s Nate Meadors

 

Notre Dame football coach Brian Kelly visits with San Gorgonio athlete Nate Meadors

Notre Dame football coach Brian Kelly visits with San Gorgonio athlete Nate Meadors and his family.

San Gorgonio athlete Nate Meadors had a home visit from Notre Dame football coach Brian Kelly.

Meadors, who played quarterback for the Spartans this season, is being recruited as a defensive back.
He entered 2014 without a single offer, but closed out the year with 14 offers, including Notre Dame, UCLA and Oregon.
Kelly was not the first coach that Meadors welcomed into his home. UCLA coach Jim Mora took a small trip to visit Meadors on Jan. 22.

Nate Meadors watches his highlight tape with UCLA coach Jim Mora on Jan. 22.

Nate Meadors watches his highlight tape with UCLA coach Jim Mora on Jan. 22.

He also played in the Inland Empire vs. Orange Country All-Star Game as an offensive player.
The Notre Dame football program seems to have its eye on San Bernardino County talent.
It was just last week that a member of the program has taken a visit to Carter High School to follow up with Lokeni Toailoa for the fifth time since offering him a scholarship.

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Notre Dame builds relationship with Carter’s Lokeni Toailoa

While the Carter Lions football program is in the offseason, the recruiting process continues for linebacker Lokeni Toailoa.

Lokeni Toailoa

Lokeni Toailoa

Toailoa had representatives from both, the San Diego State University Aztecs and the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish football programs visit him this week.

Both schools are among the 18 colleges to offer Toailoa a scholarship.

He also stated that it is the fifth time the Fighting Irish have taken a visit to speak with him since he received the offer from them.

“We have already established a good relationship,” he said. “It’s huge for any program (to take the time to visit) but having a prestigious program like Notre Dame makes it that much more special.”

While only a junior, Notre Dame has expressed to Toailoa where he would fit within its defense.

“They like me at (middle) linebacker,” he said. “Especially since they have two seniors at the spot now who will be gone soon, but they also believe my versatility could have me at any one of their linebacker positions.

In regards to where his dream school may be at, Toailoa stated that as he grew up, he did have a dream school, but since the recruiting process has taken off and it’s all changed.

“My dream school is (which ever college) offers the best education in what I want to do,” he explained. “…a place I can see myself attending even if I wasn’t playing football.”

While Toailoa believes the process has changed his mind set on certain things, he still believes the process has been a positive experience.

“It’s honestly been a fun experience but I know time is running out,” he said. “I plan on really looking into schools now and narrowing it down soon.”

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