COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Two-sport Haunga weighing football options
Nestled in the greenery of Wahiawa, a sleeper awaits.
At 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds, that's a sleeping giant of sorts. Viliami Haunga, Leilehua's standout defensive end, is weighing scholarship offers from Arizona State, San Diego State and Oregon State.
Commits
Hawaii high school players
» Kalani Aldrich, DE, Kamehameha-Hawaii to Washington
» Bryson Beirne, QB, Pac-Five to Arizona
» Savaii Eselu, TE, Moanalua to Oregon
» Kaneakua Friel, TE, Kamehameha to BYU
» Michael Matamua, OL, Kapolei to San Diego State
» Gary Nagy, DB, Kahuku to BYU
» Sione Tau, OL, Damien to Arizona
UH commitments
» Vaughn Meatoga, DL, Kamehameha to Hawaii
» Gabe Tuata, RB, Kealakehe to Hawaii
other UH commitments
» Ray Hisatake, DT, San Mateo (Calif.) College
» Leon Jackson, RB, Nebraska
» Kevin Konrath, LB, Brother Rice (Chicago)
» Chris Leatigaga, DE, Foothills (Calif.) College
» Erik Robinson, S, Navarro (Texas) JC
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Haunga will visit Oregon State's campus next month, either on Jan. 4 or Jan. 21.
Hawaii is interested, too.
"They want to see my videos," he said.
Haunga, who also plays basketball, is sidelined with an arm injury. He's been diligent about his role with the basketball Mules, toting a clipboard and looking very much like a future coach during Leilehua's games at the Merv Lopes Classic.
Football, at least for this week, has been far from his mind.
"It doesn't really matter where I go for college. I'll take the best offer," said the senior, who carries a 2.8 grade-point average.
Haunga admits that Oregon State has plenty to offer.
"I like their defensive scheme. I just like the way they play," he said. "I haven't been to the mainland in my whole life, so I'm excited to go on the visit."
A potential offer by Hawaii, however, would balance the scales quickly. "UH is doing good, too. My mom supports me. She just wants me to succeed," he said. "I would be the first one in my family to graduate from college."
Haunga is a Star-Bulletin All-State second-team selection.
"I want to thank my coaches and my teammates," he said. "If it wasn't for them and my family, I wouldn't have any opportunities to play sports. I just want to show them my gratitude."
Leilehua coach Nolan Tokuda was not surprised by Haunga's attitude.
"He's a hard, hard worker. After practice, I'll come in and start cleaning up the lockerroom, and Vili's there already, picking up the mess and sweeping up," Tokuda said. "I asked him what he was doing, and he said, 'Coach, this is messy.' He's the last one to leave. That's the kind of guy he is."
Friel at last: Other schools have backed off, but there is still interest in Kamehameha tight end Kaneakua Friel.
He's not looking to change his mind about BYU, though. The Star-Bulletin first-team tight end committed to the Cougars last summer, not long after attending BYU's camp for high-school players.
"They kind of knew about me before from the PIAA camp," Friel said. Overall, though, the 6-4, 225-pound senior was off the radar of many colleges.
"I didn't have video from my junior year. I played one minute a game," he said.
It was a trip to the Poly Camp that piqued the interest of BYU offensive coordinator Robert Anae. That, in turn, piqued Friel's desire to explore his options.
"I kinda wanted to leave Hawaii and get that experience of being away, but I'll come back. There's no place better to live," he said after returning from a day at Sandy Beach.
Friel became a playmaker as the season went along for Kamehameha. His big-play speed was a huge boost to the Warrior offense and expanded his role, which had been mostly relegated to blocking.
He's come a long way since his early days with the Pop Warner Kaneohe Knights, when he was an offensive lineman. He switched to the Kahaluu Broncos after sitting out a year, and was a running back for two years.