Sports
Banning defensive back Steven Perez has versatility to guide Pilots
Eighth in a series of stories profiling top high school football players by position. Today, Steven Perez, Banning defensive back.
When you attend a Banning High football game, it’s hard not to pay attention to Steven Perez. He’s 6 feet 1, 190 pounds and plays anywhere and everywhere. He has been a receiver, running back, linebacker and defensive back. He’ll be playing some quarterback.
“I’m willing to do whatever,” he said. “We do hitting drills and when no one is stepping up if it’s offensive line or defensive line, I’m always, ‘Put me in.’”
The fact Perez will play the first month of his senior year as a 16-year-old gives you a hint about his fearlessness and confidence.
“He reminds me of a kid from the movie ‘Little Giants,’” coach Raymond Grajeda said. “His mentality is he just loves the game.”
Perez loves one position more than all others.
“I’m a safety,” he said. “I like to hit. I’m a defensive player first and foremost. I like being in the box. I want to hit. I’m confident.”
During the offseason, he was working out at the beach with the two family dogs, making the sand his playground. The weight room also was a can’t-miss hangout, because he knows strength can send him on a path to even greater success.
He has been playing football since he was 5. His mother was a softball pitcher for Banning. His father played baseball at Bishop Montgomery. His mother’s side of the family has lived in Wilmington for years. When they say, “Once a Pilot, always a Pilot,” they’re referring to Perez.
“I think I’m fifth generation Banning Pilot,” he said.
He attends the school’s firefighter/EMS magnet program, and is the co-chief for students. That’s a major honor.
“It’s a huge responsibility for me,” he said. “I lead them, I direct them, I show them what we’re doing.”
Perez has matured and learned how to deal with failure. There were times early in high school that he got so upset when making a mistake he’d have a tantrum and forget about finishing his assignment.
“I’m so competitive,” he said. “I hate losing, so whenever I made a mistake or do something that was not perfect, I would just lose myself. I want to be perfect. I want to be the best player.
“Coach Grajeda was able to get on me a lot and it led me to mature and become a better person and better player. Without someone to tell me what I was doing wrong, I wouldn’t know and now I know how to be more mature on and off the field.”
A review of Banning statistics last season provide a look at Perez’s versatility. He rushed for 335 yards and five touchdowns. He caught 50 passes for 907 yards and five touchdowns. He had 83 solo tackles and five interceptions.
“This guy doesn’t stop,” Grajeda said.”He’s a dynamic player. He’s a trick of all trades. He can do it all.”
There’s no reason Perez can’t be similar to two-time City Section player of the year Peyton Waters, who led Birmingham with his versatility as a defensive back, receiver and wildcat quarterback.
There’s really nothing preventing Perez from being the best player in the City Section this season.
“I’ve been working harder than ever in the weight room,” he said.
Tuesday: Jacob Kreinbring, Loyola kicker.
Defensive backs to watch
Trestin Castro; Upland; 6-1; 170; Sr.; USC commit is cornerback with quickness
Adonyss Currie; Quartz Hill; 6-1; 170; Sr.; Texas A&M commit has size, speed to excel
Daryus Dixson; Mater Dei; 6-0; 180; Sr.; Penn State commit is aggressive, physical cornerback
Dijon Lee; Mission Viejo; 6-4; 190; Sr.; Alabama commit is top athlete with size and instincts
Legend Lyons; Charter Oak; 6-2; 190; Sr.; Minnesota commit makes big plays
Chuck McDonald; Mater Dei; 6-1; 190; Sr.; Alabama cornerback has speed to cover anyone
Steven Perez; Banning; 6-1; 190; Sr.; Has versatility, work ethic to keep raising game
Madden Riordan; Sierra Canyon; 5-11; 165; Jr.; USC commit had three interceptions in season opener
Dylan Robinson; Bonita; 6-3; 190; Sr.; Washington commit had 51 tackles, four interceptions as a junior
Rodney Sermons; Rancho Cucamonga; 6-1; 180; Jr.; Improved speed makes him player to watch
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Basketball Hall of Famer Charles Barkley sounded off on the frenzied reactions to the U.S. men’s hockey team getting invited to the White House by President Donald Trump.
Trump talked to the Olympic gold medal-winning team immediately after they defeated Canada in overtime last weekend. He said they would be invited to his State of the Union address and added that he needed to invite the women’s team as well or he would be “impeached.”
Charles Barkley sits courtside against the Minnesota Timberwolves during an NBA Cup game at Mortgage Matchup Center on Nov. 21, 2025. (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)
Trump critics took the joke as a shot at the women’s team, which sparked questions from NHL and Professional Women’s Hockey League reporters as the players returned to their respective club teams.
“I’m proud of the United States men. I’m proud of the United States women. You should have invited both of them to the White House, but it shouldn’t have been disrespect, misogyny,” Barkley said on the “Steam Room” podcast. “Like, yo, man, why do y’all have to mess everything up? Everything isn’t Democrat, Republican, conservative, liberal. That’s why we got this divided, screwed up country. Stop it man. Because, you know, the public, they’re idiots. They’re fools. They can’t think for themselves. I know y’all say stuff to trigger them. Y’all say stuff and y’all know they’re going to be fools.”
Barkley lamented that the average person would get riled up over the supposed controversy.
The U.S. team poses for a group photo after defeating Canada in the men’s ice hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Milan, Italy, on Feb. 22, 2026. (Luca Bruno/AP Photo)
“We don’t have to fall for stupidity. But we do – that’s my point. These people out here are stupid. They need something to trigger them. Just because they want us to be stupid. We don’t have to be stupid. He should have invited both teams to the White House. Simple as that. Guys who didn’t want to go shouldn’t have to explain why they didn’t go.”
The former Philadelphia 76ers, Houston Rockets and Phoenix Suns star made clear he would go to the White House regardless of whether Trump was in office.
“I’ve said this before, I’m not a Trump guy. But if I got invited to the White House, I would go. I’m not a Trump guy – I want to make that clear. But I respect the office,” Barkley said. “He’s the president of the United States. But if guys don’t want to go, I understand that too. It doesn’t have to be a talking point. It doesn’t have to be un-American.
Megan Keller (5) celebrates with a flag alongside Cayla Barnes (3) of Team United States after scoring the game-winning goal in overtime during the women’s gold medal match against Canada on Day 13 of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Milan Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, Italy, on Feb. 19, 2026. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
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“I just wish y’all would stop falling for the stupidity.”
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Three years ago, as a 14-year-old freshman, Slava Shahbazyan made it to Bakersfield for the state wrestling championships.
“It was good to get experience that young,” he said.
Then came Saturday night when he had a breakthrough moment, winning the state 165-pound championship as a 17-year-old senior for Birmingham High.
“It means everything to me,” he said. “It took four years.”
Shahbazyan, who transferred from Chaminade after his sophomore year, is set to attend Stanford and still in the hunt to be valedictorian at Birmingham. Coach Jimmy Medeiros said he was close to winning last season before finishing fourth.
“He got a lot better,” Medeiros said.
Shahbazyan has been wrestling since he was 8. “My father loves wrestling,” he said.
Two St. John Bosco wrestlers, Jesse Grajeda at 144 pounds and Michael Romero at 150 pounds, also won state titles.
Here’s the link to complete results.
This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.
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Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Dominiq Ponder died this weekend, the team’s head coach Deion Sanders confirmed on Sunday with a social media post.
“God please comfort the Ponder family, friends and loved ones,” Sanders wrote on social media. “Dom was one of my favorites! He was Loved, Respected & a Born Leader. Let’s pray for all that knew him & had the opportunity to be in his presence. Lord you’re receiving a good 1. Comfort us Lord Comfort us.”
Ponder was 23 years old.
Details of Ponder’s death are not yet known.
Colorado head coach Deion Sanders watches his team warm up before an NCAA college football game against TCU Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in Fort Worth, Texas. (Tony Gutierrez/AP Photo)
Ponder, a 6-foot-5, 200-pound signal caller, joined the Buffaloes and “Coach Prime’s” program in 2024 after spending time at Bethune-Cookman before making his way to Boulder.
Last season, Ponder played just two games for the Buffaloes while serving in his backup role. He recorded two rush attempts and one pass attempt.
The Opa Locka, Fla., native also received tribute from a fellow quarterback with the Buffaloes, Colton Allen.
Bethune-Cookman QB Dominiq Ponder takes a snap during the Wildcats’ spring game Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Daytona Stadium. (IMAGN)
“Dom, you were a blessing to so many people,” Allen wrote on Instagram. “You had a presence about you that just made everything better. You brought so much joy to me and everyone around you. I’m grateful for every lift, every practice, every rep, every conversation we got to share. I’ll carry those with me for the rest of my life.”
Ponder was going to be a part of Colorado’s spring practices, which are set to begin on Monday. It’s unknown if Sanders will postpone the start due to Ponder’s passing.
Ponder also received a tribute from the University of Central Florida.
Colorado head coach Deion Sanders watches his players warm up before an NCAA college football game against Utah, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (Tyler Tate/AP Photo)
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“Our prayers are with Dominiq and the Ponder family along with all in the Colorado football program,” the university’s football account on X wrote.
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