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From an unknown QB to an Elite 11 star player: meet new prospect Jaron Keawe Sagapolutele

Posted on by angelo

Jaron Keawe Sagapolutele arrived at the prestigious Elite 11 Finals in Southern California last week as an unknown. That’s what happens when you’re from Hawaii and your name doesn’t have four or five stars.

His anonymity did not last long.

“Other quarterbacks know a player when they see him,” said Elite 11 director Brian Stumpf. “And he immediately earned their respect. Like, “Man, this guy is good.” »

And many schools are taking note.

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Sagapolutele, currently ranked as the No. 39 quarterback in the 247Sports Composite in the Class of 2025, entered the Elite 11 last week with just a handful of offers. He took official visits to Boise State, Utah State and Oregon State before the event and visited Cal after camp.

He has since received an offer from SMU.

“It was a hectic week,” Sagapolutele said after returning from California. “But it’s also been a blessing. I have enjoyed every moment that I have been able to play and compete with the best quarterbacks in the country and just to be able to do as well as I have is truly a blessing from God.

“Coming from Hawaii, so far it’s definitely been harder to get recruited and get noticed. But I’m just happy to get some exposure and people are starting to realize that Hawaii is a big player.”

Sagapolutele caught the eye of Stumpf and the other coaches at the Elite 11 regional camp in Las Vegas last month. He wasn’t necessarily the most consistent performer, but his effortless release was undeniable. So was his size — 6-foot-3, 215 pounds — and arm strength. It was enough to earn the lefty one of the coveted 20 spots at the Elite 11 finals.

Sagapolutele admitted he was nervous about attending the event, but he launched with confidence and acted like he belonged there. He won the “Rail Shot Challenge,” which is based on accuracy as each quarterback attempts to place a perfect ball to a receiver inbounds.

“I was impressed with his talent,” Quincy Avery, one of the Elite 11’s coaches, told Bruce Feldman at the event. “That kid is going to get a lot better, too.”

Sagapolutele will enter his third season as a starter at James Campbell High School in Ewa Beach and has already thrown more than 800 passes during his prep career.

“If he stays healthy this year, he’ll make well over 1,000 attempts,” Stumpf said, “which translates really well just in terms of playing hard.”

Sagapolutele said he would like to make a college decision before his senior season begins, but he doesn’t want to rush into anything. He enjoyed his visit to Cal and is intrigued by SMU’s offer. Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein has been in touch recently and wants to join a Zoom call with Sagapolutele and his family.

Sagapolutele, whose older brother John plays in Hawaii, is in an interesting position as a rising prospect in a market with limited options. All but three of the top 50 quarterbacks in the class have committed, and only eight Power 4 programs don’t have a QB in their 2025 class.

For now, he’s just happy to be mentioned among some of the best quarterbacks in the country.

“There’s definitely that mentality that says, ‘I’ve got something to prove,’” he said. “I’m always able to stay relaxed and composed and I was just happy that I did as well as I did.”

(Photo courtesy of Elite 11)