With the clock ticking down Wednesday’s morning’s signing day, the list of local products to stay home and play for Hawaii appears to hinge on Kahuku standout Kesi Ah-Hoy.
Ah-Hoy originally had the Warriors first on his list before entertaining offers from Oregon State. He is expected to decide on Wednesday morning.
As of right now, Hawaii doesn’t expect to land a single recruit who played in Hawaii in high school. Head coach Nick Rolovich does expect to get ink on four players with local ties, though, in Kalepo Naotala, Manu Hudson-Rasmussen, Drake Stallworth and Kade Greeley.
Naotala is Pisa Tinoisamoa‘s nephew, Hudson-Rasmussen is related to former Warrior Kory Rasmussen, Stallworth is coached by former UH QB David Graves and Greeley is part Hawaiian and his sister plays for the Rainbow Wahine volleyball team.
If UH does get shut out of the 2016 Star-Advertiser All-State team, it would mark the first time since before 1997 when Manley Kanoa of Kamehameha was the lone local star to qualify.
UH’s most successful local class in the past 20 years occurred in 2005, when nine recruits signed and won an average of 3.44 letters before their careers were finished. Big names from that class included John Fonoti, Inoke Funaki and Rocky Savaiigaea.
The year before Hawaii only got two local recruits, Fale Laeli of Saint Louis and Nanakuli’s Keala Watson, and they both played all four years at Manoa.
Of the 142 local recruits to pledge to Hawaii since 1998, 89 of them came from the OIA, 45 from the ILH, four from the BIIF and two each from the KIF and MIL.
Here is a look at UH’s haul on Letter of Intent day since 1998 with league played in and letters won:
League | Letters | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2016 | Josh Hauanio | OL | Iolani | ILH | 0 |
2016 | Keala Santiago | DB | Kahuku | OIA | 1 |
2016 | Kalakaua Timoteo | WR | Mililani | OIA | 1 |
2016 | Fred Ulu-Perry | OL | Saint Louis/UCLA | ILH | 0 |
2015 | Jordan Agasiva | OL | Mililani | OIA | 0 |
2015 | Kamuela Borden | OL/DL | Iolani | ILH | 0 |
2015 | Solomon Matautia | S/LB | Campbell | OIA | 1 |
2015 | Alex Trifonovitch | PK | Punahou | ILH | 1 |
2014 | Tui Eli | OL | Kealakehe | BIIF | 2 |
2014 | Dayton Furuta | LB | Mililani | OIA | 1 |
2014 | Ka'au Gifford | DL | Kamehameha | ILH | 2 |
2014 | Donald Lambert | WR | Moanalua | OIA | 0 |
2014 | Devan Stubblefield | WR | Saint Louis | ILH | 1 |
2014 | Dakota Torres | TE | Punahou | ILH | 2 |
2014 | Manly Williams | DE | Farrington | OIA | 1 |
2013 | Keelan Ewaliko | QB/WR | Baldwin | MIL | 3 |
2013 | Rashaan Falemalu | LB | Kahuku | OIA | 0 |
2013 | Ualesi Sale | LB | Aiea | OIA | 0 |
2013 | Kennedy Tulimasealii | DT | Waianae | OIA | 3 |
2013 | John Waa | OL | Kahuku | OIA | 3 |
2013 | Aofaga Wily | RB | Kahuku | OIA | 1 |
2012 | Benny Fonua | LB | Kahuku | OIA | 4 |
2012 | Steven Lakalaka | RB | Punahou | ILH | 4 |
2012 | Kiha Sai | OL | Kamehameha | ILH | 0 |
2012 | Lancelot Williams | LB | Farrington | OIA | 4 |
2011 | Ben Dew | OL | Word of Life | ILH | 1 |
2011 | Tigi Hill | S | Kahuku | OIA | 0 |
2011 | Ben Mamea | LB | Kahuku | OIA | 0 |
2011 | Mike Sellers | CB | Campbell | OIA | 2 |
2011 | Justin Vele | LB | Farrington | OIA | 2 |
2010 | David Lefotu | OL | Pearl City | OIA | 3 |
2010 | Frank Loyd | OL | Moanalua | OIA | 3 |
2010 | Sean Shigematsu | OL | Kapaa | KIF | 3 |
2010 | Samson Anguay | WR | Campbell | OIA | 1 |
2010 | Corey Lau | WR | Kailua | OIA | 0 |
2010 | Ipulasi Eselu | DE | Moanalua | OIA | 0 |
2010 | Beau Yap | DE | Kamehameha | ILH | 3 |
2010 | Calen Friel | DT | Kailua | OIA | 1 |
2010 | Moses Samia | DT | Saint Louis | ILH | 3 |
2010 | Dustin Elisara | LB | Kapolei | OIA | 0 |
2010 | Tuulauena Lolohea | LB | Kapolei | OIA | 0 |
2010 | Zachary Quines | LB | Mililani | OIA | 0 |
2010 | Marcus Umu | S | Saint Louis | ILH | 1 |
2009 | Kamalani Alo | S | Kahuku | OIA | 4 |
2009 | Kalani Brackenridge | CB | Kapolei | OIA | 0 |
2009 | Jordan Loeffler | OT | Hilo | BIIF | 2 |
2009 | Chad Lopati | LB | Kapolei | OIA | 0 |
2009 | Benson Maafala | OL | Mililani | OIA | 1 |
2009 | Marcus Malepeai | DT | Radford | OIA | 3 |
2009 | Veni Manu | DE | Mililani | OIA | 0 |
2009 | Cayman Shutter | QB | Punahou | ILH | 3 |
2009 | Billy Ray Stutzmann | WR | Saint Louis | ILH | 4 |
2009 | Aulola Tonga | S | Kahuku | OIA | 1 |
2009 | Chancey Winchester-Makainai | OL | Kailua | OIA | 3 |
2008 | Haku Correa | DE | Damien | ILH | 4 |
2008 | Paipai Falemalu | LB | Kahuku | OIA | 4 |
2008 | Geordan Hanohano | DL | Saint Louis | ILH | 4 |
2008 | Art Laurel | LB | Leilehua | OIA | 4 |
2008 | Earvin Sione | WR | McKinley | OIA | 1 |
2008 | Alema Tachibana | LB | Kahuku | OIA | 1 |
2008 | Tuiata Tuiasasopo | OL | Saint Louis | ILH | 0 |
2008 | Levi Legay | OL | Kealakehe | BIIF | 2 |
2007 | Elijah Lesu | QB | Farrington | OIA | 0 |
2007 | Vaughn Meatoga | OT | Kamehameha | ILH | 4 |
2007 | John Manu Olevao | OL | Kahuku | OIA | 0 |
2007 | Miah Ostrowski | SB | Punahou | ILH | 4 |
2007 | Drew Uperesa | OL | Punahou | ILH | 2 |
2007 | Gabe Tuata | SB | Kealakehe | BIIF | 0 |
2006 | Pookela Ahmad | LB | Kapolei | OIA | 4 |
2006 | Afa Bridenstine | S | Kahuku | OIA | 0 |
2006 | Kenny Estes | DB | Waimea | KIF | 4 |
2006 | Brysen Ginlack | OL | Kahuku | OIA | 3 |
2006 | Kiran Kepoo | QB | Iolani | ILH | 0 |
2006 | Kealoha Pilares | RB | Damien | ILH | 4 |
2006 | Clayton Laurel | DE | Leilehua | OIA | 3 |
2006 | Stanford Leti | S | Moanalua | OIA | 0 |
2006 | Elliott Purcell | LB | Saint Louis | ILH | 4 |
2006 | Quinton Tang | LB | Moanalua | OIA | 0 |
2006 | Alasi Toilolo | DE | Kapolei | OIA | 4 |
2005 | John Fonoti | DL | Farrington | OIA | 4 |
2005 | B.J. Fruean | LB | Leilehua | OIA | 1 |
2005 | Inoke Funaki | QB | Kahuku | OIA | 4 |
2005 | Raphael Ieru | DL | McKinley | OIA | 4 |
2005 | Aaron Kia | OL | Mililani | OIA | 4 |
2005 | RJ Kiesel Kauhane | LB | Aiea | OIA | 4 |
2005 | Brashton Satele | LB | Word of Life | ILH | 3 |
2005 | Rocky Savaiigaea | DL | Aiea | OIA | 4 |
2005 | Blaze Soares | LB | Castle | OIA | 3 |
2004 | Fale Laeli | DT | Saint Louis | ILH | 4 |
2004 | Keala Watson | DT | Nanakuli | OIA | 4 |
2003 | Quin Ah You | DL | Kahuku | OIA | 0 |
2003 | Xavier Hoolulu | OL | Kailua | OIA | 0 |
2003 | Jeremy Inferrera | OL | Saint Louis | ILH | 2 |
2003 | Michael Lafaele | C | Farrington | OIA | 4 |
2003 | Viliami Nauahi | S | Kahuku | OIA | 2 |
2003 | Timo Paepule | LB | Saint Louis | ILH | 4 |
2003 | George Perry | DB | Kahuku | OIA | 2 |
2003 | Jason Rivers | WR | Saint Louis | ILH | 4 |
2003 | Daniel Tautofi | LB | Kaimuki | OIA | 2 |
2003 | Tu Tui | DB | Kahuku | OIA | 0 |
2002 | Abu Maafala | DL | Kamehameha | ILH | 2 |
2002 | Kalavai Blanchard | OL | Kahuku | OIA | 0 |
2002 | Tala Esera | OL | Kahuku | OIA | 4 |
2002 | Inoke Funaki | QB | Kahuku | OIA | 4 |
2002 | Samson Satele | OL | Kailua | OIA | 4 |
2001 | Ikaika Curnan | LB | Saint Louis | ILH | 4 |
2001 | Justin Faimealelei | WR | Kaimuki | OIA | 2 |
2001 | Pesefea Fiaseu | RB | Saint Louis | ILH | 1 |
2001 | Kila Kamakawiwo‘ole | WR | Kaimuki | OIA | 4 |
2001 | Lokahi Travis | OL | Kailua | OIA | 0 |
2000 | Timmy Chang | QB | Saint Louis | ILH | 4 |
2000 | Justin Ayat | K | Kamehameha | ILH | 4 |
2000 | Watson Hoohulu | LB | Kamehameha | ILH | 3 |
2000 | Phil Kauffman | G | Saint Louis | ILH | 4 |
2000 | Chad Kahele | OL | Saint Louis | ILH | 0 |
2000 | Uriah Moenoa | OL | Iolani | ILH | 4 |
2000 | Chad Kapanui | WR | Roosevelt | OIA | 4 |
2000 | Ryan Santos | OL | MIlilani | OIA | 2 |
2000 | Matt Manuma | S | Radford | OIA | 4 |
2000 | Gerald Welch | WR | Saint Louis | ILH | 4 |
2000 | Leonard Peters | S | Kahuku | OIA | 4 |
2000 | Isiah Alameda | LB | Kamehameha | ILH | 0 |
1999 | Pati Mailo | LB | Kahuku | OIA | 2 |
1999 | Vincent Manuwai | OG | Farrington | OIA | 4 |
1999 | Kanoa Noguchi | DT | Saint Louis | ILH | 0 |
1999 | Keala Loo | OG | Saint Louis | ILH | 0 |
1998 | Chris Brown | LB | Damien | ILH | 4 |
1998 | Chris Hogge | DL | Radford | OIA | 0 |
1998 | Craig Stutzmann | WR | Saint Louis | ILH | 4 |
1998 | Shawn Withy-Allen | QB | Kalaheo | OIA | 4 |
1998 | Matt Wright | LB | Iolani | ILH | 4 |
1998 | White Sosene | DL | Waianae | OIA | 0 |
1998 | Stanford Evaimalo | DL | Waianae | OIA | 0 |
1998 | Nate Jackson | DB | Waianae | OIA | 4 |
1998 | Kainoa Evangelista | DL | Waianae | OIA | 0 |
1998 | Robby Takara | LB | Campbell | OIA | 0 |
1998 | Derek Zoller | LB | Campbell | OIA | 1 |
1998 | Lui Fuga | DL | Waipahu | OIA | 4 |
1998 | Ashley Lelie | WR | Radford | OIA | 3 |
1998 | Lui Fuata | OL | Lahainaluna | MIL | 4 |
1998 | Jimmy Timoteo | Leilehua | OIA | 0 | |
1998 | Joey Raquino | Leilehua | OIA | 0 |
UH should offer more kids, the kids that are over looked! They should pick up the kids that are good but aren’t getting the recognition , Vili Fishiahi would be an awesome center for Hawaii. Every school here has that one kid who is flying under the radar but is well deserving of an offer from Hawaii. Go find them Rolo! If you need help, let me know
Rajah Dat, OG. Kapolei get the State’s all time leading Rec. 100+ Jaymin Sarono, and all state safety Leonard Lee. This is just 2 of many. Oh wait, they dont run 4.3 -4.5 forty’s so they’re no good. But guess what neither does many of the mainland HS guys they offered. Rolo’s a weasel, he wants them to walk on. But he’ll take a chance on the Mainland Guys.
This is a trend that will continue for several more years until local players see Hawaii as a legitimate, year-year conference championship contender. Unfortunately, that is human nature in wanting to be part of a nationally recognized, football program. Hawaii was there, but lost it. So it’s rebuilding time and coach Rolovich is just the person to do it. His recruiting class this year is the best group of athletes Warrior football has seen the past several years. And accomplished without any player from Hawaii. You know, there are good players outside of Hawaii.
Hawaii should definitly recruit more locals. they only recruit the guys that already has big schools chasing them, and these kids already have thier mind set.