Three offers from BYU to three Kahuku Red Raiders in the same day.
It could be a first. The program in blue has been connected to the program in red for ages. Brock Cravens Fonoimoana, Leonard Ah You and Liona Lefau may be the answer to a trivia question now. All three are sophomores and all three played with the Rebel Squad, which won the varsity (no seniors) division at the Pylon Mecca 7×7 tournament last week in Mesquite, Nev.
“It’s pretty crazy. It’s nice to be from the same community and the same grade, all living in Laie,” Fonoimoana said.
Sterling Carvalho, Kahuku’s coach, is also the Rebel Squad coach.
“The offers came because, finally, our athletes were able to showcase their talents. Since we didn’t have a season, no one was able to see how big and athletic these players are” he said. “When they finally got toes these players in action, even though it was playing 7v7, their talents couldn’t be denied. The is just the tip of the iceberg. More offers will come.”
Fonoimoana, a 6-foot-1 — close to 6-2 — 190-pound safety, sounds quite interested in the Cougars. He enjoyed his conversation with BYU coach Kalani Siitake.
“I think he called me first, then Liona and then Leonard. I like BYU because I’m an LDS Mormon. It would be nice to go to school with people that share the same belief as me. The football program and academic program are good, too,” he said. “I have some family other there, too.”
The 10th grader was blown away by the coach’s insights.
“He said he likes my athleticism and he also likes the young man that I am. I have potential in the sport and being a man,” he said. “My parents (Rebekah and Victor) like it. They were right there when I was on the phone with coach.”
The defensive back expects to go on a church mission after high school and return after two years.
“If I didn’t go on a mission, my mom would be upset and disappointed,” Fonoimoana said.
There is no guarantee that all three end up in Provo for college football. In the past week, Lefau received offers from Washington State and Oregon, and Ah You garnered one from Utah. Lefau, a 6-foot-2, 210-pound defensive end, now has five offers. The other offers are from Utah, Wisconsin and Virginia.
Ah You, a 6-2, 180-pound linebacker, also has an offer from Arizona State.
Fonoimoana’s first offer was from Utah. He has gained 20 pounds since last fall.
“Liona, Brock and Leonard are great players. On and off the field, they are excellent student-athletes and great role models for our younger kids,” Carvalho noted. “If any school, BYU included, gets these three players, it would be amazing. Families and alumni (in Utah) wouldn’t have to travel far to watch them play. They would just have to change their clothing color from red to blue.”
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