High School Beat
Star-Bulletin staff
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Beatty considers Buffs, Broncos
THE QUIET has passed for B.J. Beatty.
He is now in the eye of a recruiting storm.
The Kahuku defensive end wondered for a time if anyone besides New Mexico State was truly interested.
Then Hawaii made him an impromptu, unofficial offer last summer during defensive backs coach Rich Miano's Speed and Quickness Camp.
Still, after a superlative season as one of the leaders of Kahuku's state championship squad, the offers were scarce. Behind the scenes, however, there was precipitation. A storm was brewing.
This weekend, the 6-foot-2, 220-pound Beatty visited Colorado. Next week, he boards a flight that will lead him to Boise State.
Rumors that he committed to Colorado this weekend are off course.
"I saw that on the Internet, and I was, like, who made that up? I was trying to figure out who started it because not many people knew I was coming up to Colorado," Beatty said by phone from Boulder.
Beatty gave his visit to CU a big thumbs up, but is looking forward to Boise, Idaho.
"In the long run, it's gonna be who has the better name for a degree when I start going to job interviews in the future," he said.
Somewhere between UH's offer and the far-flung regions of the Rocky Mountains, Beatty realized he wanted to go away for school. He also knew that he wanted to play with as many friends as possible. This factors into his decision-making process, perhaps more than other football standouts.
Beatty has already visited New Mexico State, a new Western Athletic Conference member that signed six Red Raiders last year.
The tie to Boise State is considerable. Broncos assistant coach Viliami Tulivai befriended Beatty during the Just Win camp on Maui last summer. Also, Kamehameha defensive end Kapono Rawlins-Crivello has already committed to Boise State.
"He likes the linebacker coach at Boise State, plus Kapono is going up there, and they became good friends over the summer," said B.J.'s father, Byron. "He likes the direction the program is going in, and it's a city, but not a big city.
Colorado has always been interested in the Star-Bulletin first-team All-State selection. The changeover of coaches at CU, however, delayed the process. With former Boise State coach Dan Hawkins settled in at Boulder, assistant coach Brian Cabral was retained.
"Cabral wanted to recruit him, but he had to wait. Once Hawkins came in and brought his DC, he got the go-ahead after the holidays," Byron Beatty said. Cabral recruited former Waimea standout Jordon Dizon, who became a key contributor at linebacker as a freshman.
Utah was interested in Beatty early on.
"Toward the end of November, two coaches hand-wrote separate letters to B.J.," Byron Beatty said. "The head guy, Kyle (Whittingham), wrote him a letter. They were hot and heavy on him, and boom, they dropped right off the screen."
Arizona and Washington also showed interest before fading.
"Arizona wanted to trip him, possibly grayshirting, but after that, nothing. Washington, same thing. (Assistant coach Chris) Tormey talked about possibly tripping him and offering," Byron Beatty said.
UH never officially offered Beatty a scholarship.
"They called at the last minute," he said.
Beatty was interested in UH early in the season, but began losing interest when he didn't hear from the Warriors. They finally re-established contact recently when June Jones called the Beatty home and spoke with B.J.'s mother, Abby.
"June called the house between Christmas and New Year's. He told Abby that he had a scholarship, but B.J.'s heart was set on going away already," Byron Beatty said. "I told him, if that's what you want, let them know already. Don't waste their time and your time, so he talked to Rich Miano."
Byron Beatty said Cabral was writing B.J. letters during his sophomore and junior years.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
Whitley Fehoko (6-1, 290) of Farrington received offers from LSU and Nebraska during his week at the All-American Bowl. He also has offers from Boise State, San Diego State, Washington and UNLV. He was a soft commit to Utah last summer.
Radford's Ramsey Feagai (6-2, 330) visited UNLV this weekend and will take a look at UH next week. He is also slated for a visit to New Mexico State at the end of this month. He plans to major in graphic arts, which is offered by NMSU.
Ian Scheuring (6-5, 300) of Radford is also considering an offer from NMSU. Scheuring and Feagai are involved in the heralded graphic arts program at their school.
Another Radford senior, Michael Goodman (6-6, 245), has a standing offer from NMSU. The three-sport athlete will likely stick with baseball. The left-hander throws a 93-mph fastball.
Eddie Williams (6-0, 280) of Damien has an offer from Hawaii. Arizona likes Williams as a defensive tackle.
Commits: Walter Kahaiali'i, Kamehameha-Maui to BYU; Micah Kia, Mililani to UCLA; Ryan Pohl (6-4, 245), Kamehameha to Oregon State.
RUNNING BACKS
Malosi Te'o (5-9, 185), Kahuku's prolific running back, has an offer from UNLV. He will visit the Runnin' Rebels at the end of this month.
The other first-team, All-State running back, Kealoha Pilares, is weighing offers from Air Force, Boise State, Hawaii and San Diego State. The Damien senior is leaning toward Air Force because of his desire to become a pilot.
QUARTERBACKS
Kali Kuia of Aiea has the attention of Northern State, a Division II school in South Dakota. Dixie (Utah), which moves out of the junior college ranks to Division II next fall, is also interested in Kuia.
First-team All-State passer Kiran Kepo'o of Iolani is on the radar of coaches at UH.
Kapolei's Brad Padayao has visited Air Force and Navy.
DEFENSIVE TACKLES
Damien's Lolomana Mikaele (6-2, 260) is considering offers from New Mexico State, San Diego State and Utah State. He will also visit Arizona later this month.
Isaac Tuilaepa (6-5, 290) of Aiea has drawn interest from many schools, but his improving grades and test scores are the key factor.
Tuilaepa's teammates, Chris Anakalea (6-1, 290) and Nikova Sueoka (6-1, 270) are receiving interest from Northern State.
Kapolei's Ben Kahalehoe (6-3, 230) has piqued the interest of Utah State.
Commits: Michael Sipili (6-1, 240), Damien to Oregon State; Joseph Faifili (6-3, 280), Kahuku to Utah; Peni Fiuangaihetau (6-1, 250), Lahainaluna to Weber State; Kawika Shook (6-3, 265), Kamehameha to New Mexico State.
DEFENSIVE ENDS
Pac-Five's Russel Fisher (6-2, 251), Aiea's Justin Hunt (6-1, 220) and Radford's Vasa Kuresa (5-10, 205) are among the remaining prospects at one of the deepest positions this year.
Micah Wily (6-0, 226) has an offer from New Mexico State and may switch to linebacker.
Commits: Elliott Purcell Jr. (6-1, 216), Saint Louis to New Mexico State; Kapono Rawlins-Crivello (6-1, 238), Kamehameha to Boise State; Dylan Rush (6-3, 225), Konawaena to UCLA; Russell Wantowski (6-1, 210), Radford to New Mexico State.
LINEBACKERS
Mana Lolotai (6-0, 215) of Kamehameha committed to Oregon State last week. The talented defender is not yet a qualifier.
Kevin Unga (6-2, 222) and twin brother Devin (6-1, 201), an All-State first-team pick at tight end, visited Oregon State this weekend, Kahuku coach Siuaki Livai said. Their basketball coach, Nathan James, said that the twins have drawn interest from UNLV and Utah, as well.
Nevada has shown some interest in Saint Louis' Jared Silva.
Pookela Ahmad (6-2, 210), the West defensive player of the game in the HUB Goodwill Senior Bowl, has the interest of San Diego State.
Commit: Quinton Tang (5-11, 215), Moanalua to Hawaii. Tang is not yet a qualifier.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Utah State is interested in Radford running back Alex Daniels (5-7, 165) as a cornerback or slotback.
Commit: Stanford Leti (6-0, 185), Moanalua to Hawaii. Leti is not yet a qualifier.
To nominate ...
To nominate an athlete of the week, contact the Star-Bulletin Sports Department by 11 p.m. Sunday:
Phone: 529-4782
Fax: 529-4787
E-mail: sports@starbulletin.com
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