LOS ALAMITOS — Senior quarterback Malachi Nelson and senior wide receiver Makai Lemon are both grateful to be named All-Americans after the two Los Alamitos seniors and USC commits were selected to participate in the 2023 Under Armour Next All-America Game on Jan. 3 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.
Lemon and Nelson were honored during a special ceremony where they unveiled their All-America game jerseys in front of family, teammates and coaches at Los Alamitos High School on Wednesday afternoon.
Los Alamitos WR Makai Lemon (left) and QB Malachi Nelson (right) pose with family members after a special ceremony where they were honored as 2023 Under Armour All-Americans on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022 at Los Alamitos High School. (Photo by John W. Davis, Orange County Register, SCNG)
Los Alamitos football assistant coach TJ Fenton, WR Makai Lemon, QB Malachi Nelson and Los Alamitos football assistant head coach Bruce Bible poses on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022, after Lemon and Nelson were honored as 2023 Under Armour All-Americans. (Photo by John W. Davis, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos senior wide receiver Makai Lemon poses after being named a 2023 Under Armour All-American on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022. (Photo by John W. Davis, OC Register/SCNG)
(From left to right) Los Alamitos senior wide receiver Makai Lemon and senior quarterback Malachi Nelson pose for a photo after unveiling their 2023 Under Armour All-America Game jersey on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022 at Los Alamitos High School. (Photo by John W. Davis, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
(From left to right) Los Alamitos senior wide receiver Makai Lemon and senior quarterback Malachi Nelson pose for a photo after unveiling their 2023 Under Armour All-America Game jersey on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022 at Los Alamitos High School. (Photo by John W. Davis, OC Register/SCNG)
(From left to right) Los Alamitos senior wide receiver Makai Lemon and senior quarterback Malachi Nelson pose for a photo after unveiling their 2023 Under Armour All-America Game jersey on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022 at Los Alamitos High School. (Photo by John W. Davis, OC Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos’ Malachi Nelson (7) throws a short pass during the first half of the game between Los Alamitos High and Mater Dei High in the semifinals of the CIF-SS Division 1 football playoffs at Santa Ana Stadium in Santa Ana California on Friday, November 18, 2022. (Photo by Michael Goulding)
Los Alamitos’ Malachi Nelson (7) throws a pass during the second half of the Sunset League game between Los Alamitos High and Edison High at Huntington Beach High School on Thursday, October 13, 2022.
(Contributing Photographer, Michael Goulding)
Los Alamitos’ Malachi Nelson (7) throws to the end zone during a non-league football game between Los Alamitos High and Servite High at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach CA on Friday, September 9, 2022.
(Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer)
Los Alamitos senior quarterback Malachi Nelson at Los Alamitos High School on Friday, August 5 2022 in Los Alamitos, CA.
(Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer)
Los Alamitos High School quarterback Malachi Nelson in Los Alamitos, CA, on Wednesday, December 22, 2021. Nelson is one of the top football players in the state this season. He is a junior and already committed to play at USC. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos High School quarterback Malachi Nelson in Los Alamitos, CA, on Wednesday, December 22, 2021. Nelson is one of the top football players in the state this season. He is a junior and already committed to play at USC. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos High School quarterback Malachi Nelson in Los Alamitos, CA, on Wednesday, December 22, 2021. Nelson is one of the top football players in the state this season. He is a junior and already committed to play at USC. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos High School quarterback Malachi Nelson in Los Alamitos, CA, on Wednesday, December 22, 2021. Nelson is one of the top football players in the state this season. He is a junior and already committed to play at USC. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos’ quarterback Malachi Nelson throws the ball in Bellflower on Friday, Nov. 12, 2021. (Photo by Scott Varley, Contributing Photographer)
Los Alamitos’ Malachi Nelson (7) scramble before pulling up and putting himself down during a Sunset League football game between Edison High and Los Alamitos High at Westminster High School on Thursday October 7, 2021 in Westminster, California. (Photo by Michael Goulding)
Los Alamitos’ Malachi Nelson (7) looks for a receiver during a Sunset League football game between Edison High and Los Alamitos High at Westminster High School on Thursday October 7, 2021 in Westminster, California. (Photo by Michael Goulding)
Los Alamitos’ Malachi Nelson (7) looks for a receiver during a Sunset League football game between Edison High and Los Alamitos High at Westminster High School on Thursday October 7, 2021 in Westminster, California. (Photo by Michael Goulding)
Los Alamitos’ Malachi Nelson (7) looks for a receiver during a Sunset League football game between Edison High and Los Alamitos High at Westminster High School on Thursday October 7, 2021 in Westminster, California. (Photo by Michael Goulding)
Los Alamitos’ Makai Lemon (14) pushes the ball past the goal line despite the efforts of Long Beach Poly’s Daylen Austin (8) in the first half of a game between Los Alamitos High and Long Beach Poly High in the quarterfinals of the CIF-SS Division 1 football playoffs at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach, California on Friday, November 11, 2022. (Photo by Michael Goulding)
Long Beach Poly’s Armani Wilkson (21) pulls Los Alamitos’ Makai Lemon (14) down for a loss in the second half of a game between Los Alamitos High and Long Beach Poly High in the quarterfinals of the CIF-SS Division 1 football playoffs at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach, California on Friday, November 11, 2022. (Photo by Michael Goulding)
Los Alamitos’ Makai Lemon (14) heads for the end zone during the first half a Sunset League game between Los Alamitos High and Edison High at Huntington Beach High School on Thursday, October 13, 2022.
(Contributing Photographer, Michael Goulding)
Los Alamitos wide receiver Makai Lemon, right, reaches up to make the catch over Newport Harbor cornerback Billy Ridley in a Sunset League football game in Newport Beach on Friday, September 30, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Los Alamitos wide receiver Makai Lemon, right, and his Griffins teammates are No. 2 in the Orange County Top 25 going into their Division 1 semifinal against Mater Dei. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Los Alamitos wide receiver Makai Lemon (14) fights to stay inbounds as he runs down the sideline after catching a pass against Newport Harbor in a Sunset League football game in Newport Beach on Friday, September 30, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Speedy receiver Makai Lemon (14) of Los Alamitos is an early candidate for Orange County offensive player of the year honors. (Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer)
Los Alamitos’ Makai Lemon (14) heads for the end zone in front of Servite’s Quinn Rosenkranz (10) during a non-league football game between Los Alamitos High and Servite High at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach CA on Friday, September 9, 2022.
(Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer)
Los Alamitos’ Makai Lemon (14) pulls in a touchdown pass in front of Servite’s Quinn Rosenkranz (10) during a non-league football game between Los Alamitos High and Servite High at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach CA on Friday, September 9, 2022.
(Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer)
Los Alamitos Griffin football player Makai Lemon at Los Alamitos High School on Friday, August 5 2022 in Los Alamitos, CA.
(Photo by Michael Goulding, Contributing Photographer)
Los Alamitos’ Makai Lemon keeps St. John Bosco’s Marcelles Williams at bay last month at St. John Bosco. Lemon, a junior, on Friday became the third five-star prospect – and second from Los Alamitos – to commit to new USC head coach Lincoln Riley this week. (Photo by Scott Varley, Contributing Photographer)
Los Alamitos’ Makai Lemon (14) comes down with a first down during a Sunset League football game between Edison High and Los Alamitos High at Westminster High School on Thursday October 7, 2021 in Westminster, California. (Photo by Michael Goulding)
Los Alamitos wide receiver Makai Lemon waits to make the catch against Santa Margarita in Mission Viejo on Friday, September 17, 2021. Lemon ran the ball into the end zone for the score. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Los Alamitos wide receiver Makai Lemon tries to fend off Edison defensive tackle Jeremy Alcorn in a Sunset League football game at Los Alamitos High. Los Alamitos on Friday, March 26, 2021. (Sam Gangwer, Contributing Photographer)
“I feel great. I feel blessed. It’s a big opportunity for me and my family to go out there in Florida and represent something bigger than me,” said Nelson, who was selected as a Team Phantom captain. “(This game) is something that’s been around for a long time, so I’m excited to go out there and put that jersey on and represent for my state.”
Lemon is not taking this honor and designation lightly.
“Not too many people get the chance to be All-Americans, so to do this at our school means a lot,” said Lemon.
“We honestly couldn’t have done this without you… parents, coaches, teammates, we really appreciate all of y’all,” Nelson said. “We’re proud to go represent Los Alamitos as a community, a school and our team out in Florida.
“At the next level, that’s the competition you’re going to see, so to get out there and compete at that level is going to be really fun.”
Los Alamitos finished the season with a 9-3 overall record, highlighted by winning the Sunset League title and making it to the CIF Southern Section Division 1 football semifinals.
“I want to thank Los Al,” Lemon continued. “They put us on, not too many high schools can do that for their athletes.”
“I started coaching in 1985 and have never had one (All-American) and this year we’re honored with two of them,” said Los Alamitos football coach Ray Fenton.
Meanwhile, two of Los Alamitos’ assistant football coaches, Bruce Bible and TJ Fenton, were also invited to participate as coaches, which includes helping run several practices before the game. The contest will be aired live Jan. 3 on ESPN at 11 a.m. PST.
“Those coaches are my guys,” Lemon explained. “I was with them all season so to finish off in the Under Armour Game with them is going to mean a lot and it’s a good feeling to have two coaches from my high school to be out there with me to share that experience.”
Part 2 of our behind the scenes 1 on 1 interview hosted by WR Makai Lemon x QB Malachi Nelson. Congratulations @getabagkai@Malachi on being named 2023 All-Americans. pic.twitter.com/K34hFe7B6w
