Northwood water polo standout Max Abravanel commits to play for UC San Diego

Northwood’s Max Abravanel takes a shot in the CIF playoffs. (Photo courtesy Michael An, For OC Sports Zone)

Northwood High water polo standout Max Abravanel has decided to commit to UC San Diego, according to Northwood Coach Kyle Kim-E.

“He is going to sign his letter of intent at the April -signing,” Kim-E said.

To see the slide show, please click on the first photo

Max Abravanel committed this week to play at UC San Diego.
Photo courtesy Northwood water polo

Max Abravanel applies defensive pressure in the CIF playoffs.
Photo courtesy Michael An, For OC Sports Zone

Abravanel was a four time all-league and four time All-CIF player. Two times, he was named to the CIF Division 3 first team. He was also second team All-American and should make it again this season, Kim-E said.

He had 141 goals, 64 assists and 106 steals in his senior year. During his career, he had 368 goals, 212 assists and 350 steals.

“Max is an extremely rare player, one that only comes into programs every once in a while,” Kim-E said. “His game awareness is one of his strongest attributes and this makes him a very balanced player: someone that can score at will, make steals, and find the short openings with quick passes. He was able to showcase that in his final high school game vs. San Diego’s Steele Canyon at the Division 2 State Regional Championship with six goals, three assists and four steals.

“Max is undoubtedly a great water polo player, but what I am most proud of him for is for being the best teammate and leader that he could be for the past four seasons as a varsity starter. There are few players that can say they accomplished what Max has. And although I got to work with Max for a significant amount of time in the summers and falls, it was ultimately Max who chose to make sacrifices and get stronger in each off-season.

“He told me his freshman year that his dream was to play water polo at UC San Diego and I could not be more proud of Max. Four years of hard work, perseverance, and resilience paid off and I’m happy to have been a part of his journey. He will be greatly missed at Northwood.”

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