Top247 wide receiver Malachi Lee sees the adidas Polynesian Bowl as more than another all-star invitation.
For the 2028 standout from Leesburg (Va.) Loudoun Sports Academy, the January game carries a personal connection. Lee’s mother was born in New Zealand and is Polynesian, and that made the opportunity hit differently when the offer came in.
"My mom's side is Polynesian Bowl, so it's kind of a personal thing for me," said Lee, who plays at Leesburg (Va.) Loudoun Sports Academy. "They're really strong about their Polynesian culture so it's kind of heart-warming to play in such a game."
Lee, who is 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds, said he’s looking forward to more than the football side of the trip to Honolulu. He wants to be part of the culture around the event, and he sees the bowl as a chance to show what Polynesian players can do on the field.
"It really just shows how my Polynesian people can really ball and are really football players," Lee said. "Not everybody's just a rugby player. We can play football, too."
The chance to line up against elite competition is also part of the appeal. Lee is ranked No. 9 among wide receivers and No. 67 overall in the 2028 class, and he’s already built a resume that turned heads.
After transferring from Chantilly (Va.) Westfield to Loudoun Sports Academy, he did it with the goal of playing a national schedule and testing himself against more Division I-caliber talent.
At Westfield, he broke out as a sophomore with 978 receiving yards and 11 touchdown catches. He also added seven interceptions and 68 tackles.
Playing in the Polynesian Bowl fits right into that mindset.
"It's really just great being able to compete against high-level opponents," he said. "That's really a great thing."
Lee’s recruiting calendar has already been busy this season. He has visited Virginia Tech, Texas A&M and Nebraska, and he is set to be at Penn State for Saturday’s "White Out" game against USC. He is also traveling to Michigan for the Oct. 17 matchup with the Nittany Lions.
He is ranked as the No. 2 player in Virginia’s 2028 class, and he is the third player from the state committed to the 2027 game. Richmond (Va.)
Benedictine tight end and Virginia Tech commit Sam Faniel (2027) and Landstown (Va.) High quarterback Anthony Turner (2028) are the other Virginia players set for the bowl.
The Polynesian Bowl is Jan 15. and airs on the NFL Network. Kickoff is 10 p.m. ET.
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