High School
Mitch Stephens

Mitch Stephens

Joined: Jun 19, 2024

Mitch Stephens is a senior editor at SBLive Sports for California, a state he's covered high school sports since 1984. He won multiple CNPA and CPSWA writing awards with the Contra Costa Times, San Francisco Chronicle and MaxPreps.com before joining the SBLive staff in 2022. He's covered the beat nationally since 2007, profiling such athletes as Derrick Henry, Paige Bueckers, Patrick Mahomes, Sabrina Ionescu, Jayson Tatum, Chiney Ogwumike, Jeremy Lin and Najee Harris as preps. You can reach him at mitch@scorebooklive.com.

Ohio State Buckeyes offensive lineman Josh Simmons (71) blocks Missouri Tigers defensive lineman Darius Robinson in 2023.
National

Josh Simmons selected by Kansas City Chiefs with final pick NFL Draft opening round

Former San Diego prep offensive tackle, known for his "road grader" blocking and prolific pranks, figures to go in the first round Thursday in Green Bay

Mitch Stephens
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Texas Longhorns wide receiver Matthew Golden (2) stiff-arms Kentucky Wildcats defensive back Maxwell Hairston in November 2024.
National

Matthew Golden slides to the Green Bay Packers at No. 23 in NFL Draft pick

Texas wide receiver was more than a four-star recruit to his Klein Cain High School coach, but a hero to his son

Mitch Stephens
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Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward drops back to pass against the Iowa State Cyclones during the Pop Tarts Bowl at Camping World Stadium.
National

Tennessee Titans select Cam Ward No. 1 overall in 2025 NFL Draft pick

Texas high school afterthought is still angry, motivated by lack of opportunities, thankful for supportive family, unyielding faith

Mitch Stephens
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Trinity Christian's Shedeur Sanders (2) throws a pass during a football game between Trinity Christian and Knoxville Catholic in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020. Kns Preps Catholic Tcch 0829
National

Shedeur Sanders' road to NFL Draft started with dad Deion Sanders, Texas high school football

Gridiron connection between Hall of Fame father and now-famous son began at Trinity Christian in Cedar Hill (Texas), where the Tigers won three state TAPPS titles

Mitch Stephens
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Aaliyah Chavez (right) poses with her high school coach Jill Schneider one last time after winning the game MVP honors Friday at the Jordan Brand Classic in Washington D.C.
National

Aaliyah Chavez, Kian Anthony are MVPs at Jordan Classic All-Star high school basketball games

Points aplenty in as the boys and girls combined for 501 points in two offensive showcases in Washington D.C.

Mitch Stephens
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Amin Noroozi (right), a standout junior offensive and defensive line for Acalanes-Lafayette (Calif.), perished on Thursday from complications to a spinal injury suffered at Stinson Beach in Northern California on Sunday.
California

Northern California high school football player — 'one you'd build your team around' — dies from swimming accident

Acalanes of Lafayette community mourns the loss of junior Amin Noroozi, who was pronounced deceased Thursday from complications to spinal injury suffered at the beach

Mitch Stephens
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Mississippi quarterback Jaxson Dart competes during the 2025 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium.
National

New York Giants trade back into first round to select Jaxson Dart in NFL Draft

Ole Miss quarterback was a National High School Player of the Year at Corner Canyon in Draper, Utah

Mitch Stephens
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Corona High senior pitcher Seth Hernandez pitches against Santa Margarita at the Boris Classic on Wednesday, March 26, 2025.
California

California Top 10 2025 baseball prospects' progress report

Six are earning A's, including No. 1 prospect Corona's Seth Hernandez, who is having the best season among the elite group

Mitch Stephens
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Then Mater Dei head football coach Frank McManus in his final game for the Monarchs was a triumphant one, 35-0 over Serra for the CIF Open Division championship at Saddleback College. McManus was let to go four months later and a year after that — on Wednesday — he was hired as the new head coach at Cardinal Newman in Santa Rosa.
National

Former Mater Dei football coach back at it; Texas softball brawl: Top high school sports stories (4/17/2025)

Mitch Stephens
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Frank McManus (right) and defensive back from Mater Dei retrieves a gold chains around the neck of the coach as part of a ritual between defensive players.
California

Former Mater Dei football coach Frank McManus lands at Northern California power Cardinal Newman

Mitch Stephens
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Tajh Ariza (right) embraces a teammate during the City finals.
California

5-star basketball recruit Tajh Ariza transfers to St. John Bosco

Mitch Stephens
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Fourth-ranked Saint Francis (white) during a 6-3 win over Cathedral Catholic at the Carew Softball Classic in Orange County on April 3.
California

Top 25 California high school softball rankings (4/16/2025)

Mitch Stephens
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