Serra's Jabari Mann big-time player for the best in Norcal
On a team with less talent than Serra, Jabari Mann no doubt would have stood out more than he did for the San Mateo powerhouse, probably by a significant margin.
He was that good. The linebacker hit hard. Made big plays. And did what was asked of him on offense, too, even if the ask meant lining up under center in the Wildcat formation against powerhouse Mater Dei-santa Ana in the California Interscholastic Federation Open Division state championship game.
Mann was a big-time player on a big-time team, a player whose varsity career began as a freshman during the abbreviated spring pandemic season in 2021 and ended with Serra cemented as the No. 1 program in Northern California.
The Padres' heralded senior class, of which nine are moving on to four-year college programs, elevated the school to new heights.
Mann was a key contributor to the rise, a constant presence among the sea of players who helped Serra go undefeated in the West Catholic Athletic League in 2022 and 2023.
For this, the San Jose State-bound Mann is the Bay Area News Group's San Mateo County player of the year for the second consecutive season.
Among Mann's highlights this season were the 10 tackles he had in a 28-0 victory over De La Salle and the seven he made in a 21-14 win over Folsom, the two results that kept Serra at the top of the Norcal rankings.
His career ended with a 35-0 loss to Mater Dei.
“It didn't end how I wanted it to,” Mann said. “But I love my team. I love what we did this year. Proud of the guys, proud of the coaches for getting us here every year.”
Asked what he'll remember about his Serra experience, Mann added, “I am going to remember all the football part, all the coaches. They're so loving and caring. I've never seen any coaches game planning as much as our coaches do. They just put so much time into us, so much care into us, and I appreciate them for that. I love my teammates. I love that they trust me and I love that I can trust them no matter what.”