In this day and age of sports specialization, it is becoming more and more rare to find multi-sport athletes at any level. However, it’s even rarer to find one who excels in multiple sports, but that’s not the case for South Sumter High’s Malakhi Boone. Mali, as he is affectionately known, is a junior at South Sumter High and is a generational talent. He has excelled in football and baseball for years and has now added a third sport to his arsenal—basketball. This school year alone, Mali has already been named the Lake and Sumter Style Defensive Player of the Year for football and recently made the Lake and Sumter Style all-county basketball team. With baseball season in full swing, his stats are phenomenal, and he is sure to receive accolades for it as well.

Through 11 baseball games this spring, Mali’s stats are staggering. He currently boasts a .536 batting average, .610 on-base percentage, 5 home runs, 6 stolen bases, 13 runs scored, and 15 hits. Not bad at all for a kid who said he squeezes in some batting practice during the weekends of football and basketball season. He is also very versatile, as he can play first base, outfield, and pitch if needed. Mali started playing baseball at age 4 and has been a member of several league all-star teams and numerous competitive travel baseball teams.

(Mali currently boasts a .536 batting average, .610 on-base percentage, 5 home runs, 6 stolen bases, 13 runs scored, and 15 hits this season.)

Mali was part of the South Sumter High basketball squad this year as well and helped the team to a 14-11 record, losing in the district semi-finals to Eustis High. Mali started playing basketball in his 8th-grade year after not being able to try out for the middle school team in his 7th-grade year. He was a double-figure scorer and averaged over 5 rebounds per game this year as a junior power forward and expects to contribute even more next year as a senior.

On the gridiron, Mali plays middle linebacker and fullback and has been a varsity starter since his 9th-grade year. He was named as a 2nd team all-state linebacker after his sophomore season. At 6’2” and 230 pounds, he is a formidable defender in the middle of the South Sumter High defense. While being a devastating run stopper, he can also cover running backs out of the backfield. He had 108 tackles this year, 8 sacks, and 1 interception. As a fullback, he averaged 7.3 yards per carry this year on 48 carries and scored 7 touchdowns. He currently holds football offers from West Virginia, Louisville, Marshall, UCF, Akron, and Coastal Carolina, among others.

(Mali holds football offers from West Virginia, Louisville, Marshall, UCF, Akron, and Coastal Carolina, among others.)

When asked about the challenges of being a multi-sport athlete, Mali said, “The toughest part of being a multi-sport athlete is practicing for another sport when you’re in season for the current sport.” “My advice to other multi-sport athletes would be to keep your head up and keep grinding when things get challenging.” Mali would love the opportunity to play multiple sports in college if given the chance, but for now, he’s just “enjoying high school sports”. Along with his athletic talent, Mali also carries a 3.5 GPA. When asked to pick between scoring a touchdown, hitting a home run, or hitting a game-tying 3-pointer, Mali said “definitely a home run because it’s the most challenging of the three to do.” As for now, we will have to take his word for it, because “Mali knows”… football, baseball, and basketball.