Four-star UCLA QB commit Madden Iamaleava’s transfer to Long Beach Poly denied by CIF

Maliha
Long Beach Poly defeats Jordan 28-0 to win a prep flag football game at Long Beach Poly High School in Long Beach, California. - Source: Getty
Long Beach Poly defeats Jordan 28-0 to win a prep flag football game at Long Beach Poly High School in Long Beach, California. - Source: Getty

Four-star quarterback Madden Iamaleava, a UCLA commit, has been ruled ineligible for all sports by the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section, which will remain in effect until Oct. 1, 2026. This decision follows his transfer from Warren High School to Long Beach Poly for the remainder of his senior year.

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The CIF’s decision centers around its rules on athlete transfers, specifically concerning "athletically motivated" moves. Under CIF guidelines, student-athletes who transfer to a new school without what is considered a “valid change of residence” (VCR) or proven hardship are ineligible for immediate athletic participation.

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A VCR involves moving the athlete’s family to a new home within the boundaries of the new school, while a hardship exemption covers extreme circumstances. Without either of these conditions, Iamaleava is barred from sports for the rest of his high school career.

Iamaleava's transfer drew attention because his older brother, Nico Iamaleava, a quarterback for the Tennessee Volunteers, who had also transferred between the same two schools. Nico began his high school career at Long Beach Poly before moving to Warren and later returning briefly to Poly before settling back at Warren.

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Concerns have emerged about Iamaleava's younger sisters, McKennah and Ellie, who also transferred from Warren to Long Beach Poly under the same VCR criteria. As of now, their names have not appeared on the CIF-SS transfer portal, but they too are likely to face eligibility challenges under the same ruling.

The CIF has remained tight-lipped about the decision beyond the initial statement from spokesperson Thom Simmons, who noted that the office had no further comment. The situation has also raised questions about Jace Brown, Madden Iamaleava's fellow UCLA commit who transferred from Warren to Long Beach Poly midseason. Brown's eligibility status remains uncertain as of now.

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What's next for Madden Iamaleava following his ineligibility for athletic transfer?

With just four regular-season games left, Madden Iamaleava has the option to appeal the decision, which could allow him to return to the field. However, his team’s final regular season game is scheduled for Nov. 1, marking the end of Week 10 before the postseason begins.

Iamaleava, who led the Bears to an 11-3 record as a starter in his junior year, played in just one game this season. Warren faced Hawaii's Kamehameha in the season opener on August 23, which resulted in a 31-20 loss. Since then, Iamaleava has been sidelined by the CIF-SS decision. If the ruling isn't overturned, he may have to sit out the remainder of his senior year.

According to the On3 Industry Rankings, Madden Iamaleava is the No. 160 player in the 2025 class, the No. 12 quarterback in the country, and the No. 13 player out of California.

Edited by Nicolaas Ackermann
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