Maryland signee and QB Malik Washington was named a second-team MaxPreps High School All-American on Monday, becoming the program’s first All-American selection by the outlet since Bryce McFerson in 2021.
Washington was joined by Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele – who early enrolled at Oregon but has since transferred to Cal, where he was originally committed out of high school. Alabama signee Keelon Russell and Miami (FL) signee Luke Nickel were named first-team selections at quarterback.
“Maryland Player of the Year led Cavaliers to their first undefeated season in 18 years and a spot at No. 10 in the final MaxPreps Top 25,” MaxPreps wrote.
Washington ended his career at Archbishop Spalding as a three-time MIAA champion where he finished undefeated in conference play and as the all-time conference passing leader. A validation senior season after head coach Mike Locksley and Maryland prioritized him as the future at the position through his high school career, Washington capped off his high school career alongside Russell at the Under Armour All-America Game on Jan. 2.
“I like building. That's me as a person,” Washington said on ESPN2 about his decision to play for Spalding. “I'm not really one for going to places that are already established. I like to help build things up because I feel like that's how you really cement your legacy. Now that the high school career is over, whenever you think of Spalding I'll always be remembered there just because of the things me and my team did and that's the best thing for me.”
Washington completed his first five passes after drawing the start for Team Unstoppable, finishing the day 9-of-19 for 143 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He finished with 102 yards and one touchdown on 6-of-9 passing through the first half.
He is one of two high school signees enrolling in College Park in January alongside Jackson Hamilton, while former UCLA QB Justyn Martin will arrive on campus this month where he gets a chance to battle out the rest of the room for the starting quarterback job.
“He is so relatable,” Locksley said about his newly-signed quarterback on signing day. “I mean, he is one of those guys that can transcend. I mean, it'd be like, I'm a big music guy. So he's a guy that could be a hip hop artist, an R&B singer, a country singer. He can maybe even be one of those, what do you – folk song singers? I mean, Hootie and the Blowfish. This guy, you can't put him in a box, and that part of it, I mean, the intelligence he brings. I've recruited Malik since he was an eighth grader. I watched how he built this Spalding program with his head coach there and a lot like what we've had to do here at Maryland and it has not been easy. They have not always had all the built-in advantages that some of the other places that they would play had. And he never once wavered, man. And to me, this kid had – the sky is the limit for his talent level.”
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