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LA DAILY NEWS BOYS ATHLETE OF THE YEAR 2023
Name: Dijon Stanley
School: Granada Hills Charter
Year: Senior
Sports: Football, track
Notable highlights: Granada Hills Charter has had its share of remarkable athletes. Names like John Elway, Ryan Braun and Gary Matthews Jr. come to mind pretty quickly.
Dijon Stanley earned a spot among the greatest athletes to graduate from the school, especially after the 2022-23 campaign he had on the football field and on the track. Both seasons were highlighted by championships and laced with historic accomplishments.
Dijon Stanley carries the ball for Granada Hills as they play Palisades Charter in the City Section Division I final at LA Valley College November 26 2022.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Dijon Stanley of Granada Hills Charter September 16, 2022.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Dijon Stanley of Granada Hills Charter carries the ball against Eagle Rock September 16, 2022.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Dijon Stanley carries the ball for Granada Hills as they play Palisades Charter in the City Section Division I final at LA Valley College November 26 2022.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Dijon Stanley of Granada Hills Charter carries the ball against Eagle Rock September 16, 2022.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Granada Hills running back Dijon Stanley, left, celebrates a second quarter touchdown against Laguna Beach with teammate Darrell Stanley, right, in the CIF Southern California Division 4-A Regional Championship in Laguna Beach on Saturday, December 3, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Dijon Stanley smiles after scoring a touchdown for Granada Hills as they play Palisades Charter in the City Section Division I final at LA Valley College November 26 2022.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Dijon Stanley of Granada Hills Charter carries the ball against Eagle Rock September 16, 2022.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Granada Hills running back Dijon Stanley, center, leaves Laguna Beach defenders in his wake on his way to score a touchdown in the 4th quarter of the CIF Southern California Division 4-A Regional Championship in Laguna Beach on Saturday, December 3, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Dijon Stanley carries the ball for a Granada Hills touchdown as they defeat Palisades Charter in the City Section Division I final at LA Valley College November 26 2022.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Dijon Stanley carries the ball for Granada Hills as they play Palisades Charter in the City Section Division I final at LA Valley College November 26 2022.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Dijon Stanley carries the ball for a Granada Hills touchdown as they defeat Palisades Charter in the City Section Division I final at LA Valley College November 26 2022.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Darrell Stanley (rt) congratulates Dijon Stanley of Granada Hills Charter after a touchdown against Eagle Rock September 16, 2022.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Dijon Stanley of Granada Hills looks on during the City Section Division I final at LA Valley College November 26 2022.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Dijon Stanley of Granada Hills Charter carries the ball against Eagle Rock September 16, 2022.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
In the fall, Stanley turned in one of the most impressive individual performances Granada Hills’ football program has ever seen. He ran for 2,756 yards and 33 touchdowns on 234 carries in 14 games. He averaged 196.9 yards per game and ran for more than 100 yards in every game but one.
Stanley, who has signed with Utah, led the Highlanders to the City Section Division I title, the program’s first City championship since 1987. They also won the school’s first CIF SoCal Regional crown, beating Laguna Beach 56-55 thanks to Stanley’s 252 yards and four touchdowns in the 4-A final.
Stanley totaled 36 touchdowns this season, with at least one score from an interception return, kick return and punt return. He was named the Daily News 2022 Offensive Player of the Year and West Valley League Offensive Player of the Year.
On the track, Stanley earned a medal in four events at the CIF State Track and Field Championships in May. He won the 400 meters in 45.77 seconds, beating his state-leading time of 45.92. He placed second in the 200 (20.95), and helped the 4×100 relay team finish first and the 4×400 relay team finish third.
Dijon Stanley of Granda Hills wins the 400 meter dash Invitational during the Arcadia Invitational track and field meet at Arcadia High School in Arcadia on Saturday, April 8, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Dijon Stanley comes from behind on the anchor leg to place 3rd in the 1600 meter relay giving Granada Hills enough points to win the overall boys team state championship during the 102nd CIF State Track and Field Championships at Veterans Memorial Stadium on the campus of Buchanan High School in Clovis on Saturday, May 27, 2023. (Photo by Joseph Vasquez, Contributing Photographer)
Granada Hills’ Dijon Stanley claps with satisfaction after winning the state championship in the 400 meter dash during the 102nd CIF State Track and Field Championships at Veterans Memorial Stadium on the campus of Buchanan High School in Clovis on Saturday, May 27, 2023. (Photo by Joseph Vasquez, Contributing Photographer)
Granada Hills’ Jayden Smith, from left, Kanye Martin, Dijon Stanley and Jordan Coleman after winning the boys 4×100 relay at the 102nd CIF State Track and Field Championships at Veterans Memorial Stadium on the campus of Buchanan High School in Clovis on Saturday, May 27, 2023. (Photo by Joseph Vasquez, Contributing Photographer)
Dijon Stanley points to the crowd after coming from behind on the anchor leg to place 3rd in the 1600 meter relay giving Granada Hills the overall boys team state championship during the 102nd CIF State Track and Field Championships at Veterans Memorial Stadium on the campus of Buchanan High School in Clovis on Saturday, May 27, 2023. (Photo by Joseph Vasquez, Contributing Photographer)
Dijon Stanley of Granda Hills wins the 400 meter dash Invitational during the Arcadia Invitational track and field meet at Arcadia High School in Arcadia on Saturday, April 8, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Dijon Stanley, left, of Granda Hills finished fourth behind winner Nickolas Miller, right, of Clovis North in the 200 meter dash Invitational during the Mt. SAC Relays in Hilmer Lodge Stadium on the campus of Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut on Saturday, April 15, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Dijon Stanley of Granda Hills wins the 400 meter dash Invitational during the Arcadia Invitational track and field meet at Arcadia High School in Arcadia on Saturday, April 8, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Granada Hills’ Dijon Stanley cruises to the state championship in the 400 meter dash during the 102nd CIF State Track and Field Championships at Veterans Memorial Stadium on the campus of Buchanan High School in Clovis on Saturday, May 27, 2023. (Photo by Joseph Vasquez, Contributing Photographer)
Dijon Stanley cruises to the finals during the 102nd CIF State Track and Field Championships at Veterans Memorial Stadium on the campus of Buchanan High School in Clovis on Friday, May 26, 2023. (Photo by Joseph Vasquez, Contributing Photographer)
Granada Hills’ Dijon Stanley cruises to the state championship in the 400 meter dash during the 102nd CIF State Track and Field Championships at Veterans Memorial Stadium on the campus of Buchanan High School in Clovis on Saturday, May 27, 2023. (Photo by Joseph Vasquez, Contributing Photographer)
Dijon Stanley of Granda Hills wins the 400 meter dash Invitational during the Arcadia Invitational track and field meet at Arcadia High School in Arcadia on Saturday, April 8, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Dijon Stanley of Granda Hills wins the 400 meter dash Invitational during the Arcadia Invitational track and field meet at Arcadia High School in Arcadia on Saturday, April 8, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Jayden Smith, Dijon Stanley, Kanye Martin and Jordan Coleman of Granda Hills after winning the 4×100 meter relays Invitational with a time 40.80 during the Mt. SAC Relays in Hilmer Lodge Stadium on the campus of Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut on Saturday, April 15, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Dijon Stanley, right, of Granda Hills wins the 400 meter dash Invitational during the Arcadia Invitational track and field meet at Arcadia High School in Arcadia on Saturday, April 8, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Dijon Stanley of Granda Hills wins the 400 meter dash Invitational during the Arcadia Invitational track and field meet at Arcadia High School in Arcadia on Saturday, April 8, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Dijon Stanley of Granda Hills wins the 400 meter dash Invitational during the Arcadia Invitational track and field meet at Arcadia High School in Arcadia on Saturday, April 8, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
His performance anchored the Granada Hills boys as they won the CIF State team title for the first time and become the first City school to accomplish the feat since Dorsey did it in 2005.
He also won four City titles in the same events (200, 400, 4×100, 4×400) on May 18 at El Camino College. In 2022, Stanley was a four-time City champion and in 2021 he was a three-time City champion.
He finished his high school track and field career as an 11-time City champion and three-time CIF State gold medalist. He was also named the Daily News track and field boys athlete of the year.
