McMackin gives his recruiters the green light to visit local campuses

Green is gold, at least for University of Hawaii football fans.

The rising tide of local recruits committing to the UH program -- almost a half-dozen on Sunday and Monday alone -- is no coincidence. The departure of June Jones from the Warriors program seems to have unleashed the coaching staff and more local recruits could be in Hawaii uniforms soon.

Borderline rigid control of local recruiting eased in the past two years, but some local recruits still wondered aloud why UH seemed to waver in the process. One of last year's prized recruits, Waianae defensive end David Paaluhi, was on the verge of a scholarship offer. But he said a UH assistant didn't meet for an appointment. There was no follow-up call, no apology, and Paaluhi, who dreamt of playing for Hawaii, took a scholarship offer from Oregon State.

In fact, during the 2006-07 season, UH recruiters didn't visit, or perhaps were not permitted to visit, football powerhouse Kahuku. During that time, more than a dozen Division I recruiters visited the campus.

However, that changed in the past year, and as of this week, it appears the UH staff has more recruiting power under new head coach Greg McMackin.

Star-Bulletin All-State first-team linebacker Paipai "P.J." Falemalu, a speedy 6-foot-4, 215-pound senior, is considering Hawaii.

Shrinking pool

Big Island Interscholastic Federation chief Ken Yamase expressed serious concern about a shortage of officials when the girls basketball season was moved from spring to winter by the Hawaii High School Athletic Association.

His fears have become reality.

Last week, the shortage meant only two officials -- instead of the normal three-person crew -- worked the Honokaa-Konawaena girls basketball game.

Even though the league pays officials for games and mileage, the problem persists.

Tayler time

It's remarkable enough that hoopster Tayler Wang -- yes, that's an "e" in her first name -- is the leading scorer at Hawaii Prep as a sophomore.

Note, however, that she's averaging 20.2 points per game while her team scores 37 points per outing. That's 54 percent of the offense.

Her best performance came against Pahoa -- 27 points and 11 rebounds. But she had 21 points against Waiakea, the No. 4 team in the Star-Bulletin Top 10.

Wang was selected girls athlete of the week by the Star-Bulletin.

Dolphin splurge

Academy of the Pacific finally pulled through with its first win in Interscholastic League of Honolulu Division II last weekend.

Brad Foster propelled the Dolphins with a season-high 37-point effort. That output was better than his 33-point performance against Sedro-Woolley (Wash.) during the Walter Wong Classic.

Foster's 24.5 scoring average stands out.

AOP averages 37.7 points per game, which means Foster accounts for 65 percent of the Dolphins' offense.

"He does everything for us, completely," AOP coach Ryan Hogue said about the 6-foot-1 junior, who plays all positions. "On another team at the Division I (high school) level, he'd be a 3. He can handle the ball, score through triple teams. He's a quiet kid, never complains and plays hard every single night. If he doesn't get in foul trouble, he plays every single minute for us."

Foster, who weighs 215 pounds, also played defensive end for Pac-Five.

Hogue, who played basketball at Hawaii-Hilo, hopes Foster plays basketball this summer on an all-star team.

"I would like to see what he could do on a team where he plays one position," Hogue said.

On the air

Two Interscholastic League of Honolulu boys basketball games will air on KUMU 1500 AM this week -- tomorrow's Kamehameha-Punahou game at 7 p.m, and Friday's Saint Louis-Kamehameha game at 8 p.m.