Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asu is SBLive All-America-team Defensive Player of the Year

St. John Bosco star is among three Californians on prestigious team of 24 players throughout the country

St. John Bosco 6-foot-3, 230-pound linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asu was picked as the SBLive Defensive Player of the Year as part of the a 24-man All-American team, it was announced Friday. 

The Notre Dame commit had 114 tackles, 13 for loss, and was called by coach Jason Negro "as one of the best high school football players I've worked with in my 21 years as a head coach," he told 247Sports. "First of all it's his football IQ, how savvy he is, his communication skills on the field. ... He's never out of position. He makes those around him better." 

SBLive's 2023 high school football All-America team

Viliamu-Asu heads a three-player contingent from the Golden State, that includes Mater Dei 6-5, 300-pound offensive lineman Brandon Baker (Texas signee) and Centennial running back Cornell Hatcher (Oregon State), the Southern Section Player of the Year. 

Hatcher rushed for 2,257 yards and 42 touchdowns and 12 touchdowns while Baker protected the back of Stanford-bound quarterback Elijah Brown and led the Monarchs to a No. 1 spot in the SBLive Sports final national rankings. 

All-Southern Section high school football team: Meet SBLive's 2023 selections