Under the lights in Honolulu, the 2026 Polynesian Bowl wrapped up with Team Mauka grinding out a 14-3 win over Team Makai. But the final score was only part of the story.
This annual showcase isn’t just about who wins - it’s about who shows out. And while the game featured some of the top senior prospects in the 2026 recruiting class, it also served as a national stage for a few standout juniors looking to make their mark early.
One of those rising names? KJ Green - a four-star edge rusher out of Stephenson High School in Stone Mountain, Georgia - and he didn’t just show up, he soaked it all in.
“My experience was actually amazing,” Green said after the game. “It’s a blessing from the Lord, especially because I grew up watching people play in this game, like Travis Hunter.”
That’s not just name-dropping - that’s legacy talk. For Green, this wasn’t just another all-star event.
This was a moment that had been on his radar for years, and now he was finally part of it. You could hear the gratitude in his voice, but also the hunger.
He wasn’t just happy to be there - he was ready to belong.
Green also talked about the relationships he built throughout the week. And in an era where recruiting is as much about peer-to-peer networking as it is about campus visits and coaching staffs, those bonds matter.
“I got to make a lot of connections with a lot of guys from all over the world,” he said.
Some of those connections? Multiple USC signees, who flew in later in the week after wrapping up workouts in Los Angeles.
That gave Green a chance to get a closer look at the Trojans - both on and off the field. It’s a subtle but important piece of the puzzle when it comes to recruitment: these events give top juniors like Green a front-row seat to the culture and chemistry of programs they might one day join.
For now, Green remains focused on his development and the road ahead. But if his performance and presence in Hawaii are any indication, his name is one you’ll be hearing a lot more as the 2027 cycle heats up.