Top recruit Te‘o picks all-star contest

Star-Bulletin football all-state defensive player of the year Manti Te'o is perhaps the most highly recruited athlete in the islands.

One choice that he has already cleared out of the way, however, is a postseason all-star game.

Te'o, a 6-foot-2, 230-pound linebacker from Punahou, has selected the Under Armour All-Star Game over the Army All-American Game. The Under Armour game, like the Army contest, is televised nationally. What won Te'o over, perhaps, were the accommodations.

The Under Armour exhibition is in Florida, and players are "housed" near Disney World in a plush hotel, Te'o said.

The long list of suitors for Te'o's service as a college player includes USC.

His teammate, Punahou running back Dalton Hilliard, has received a written scholarship offer from Nebraska.

Diaper dandy

Leisha Liilii is tearing the cover off the ball, but what Castle coach Jon Berinobis likes most is that she's only a freshman.

"She's been hitting the ball well for us," he said of Liilii, who is batting "over .300."

The first baseman bats third in the lineup for No. 9 Castle. She also has potential on the mound.

"She's one of the rare left-handers we've had at our school in a while," Berinobis said. "She's got all the tools."

The Knights are 4-1 in Oahu Interscholastic Association Red East play so far. "I think we're OK right now. We'll see how it goes game by game," Berinobis said.

If the shoe fits

Changes in boys basketball will happen, but don't look for them at Kaimuki or Kalaheo.

Though former Maryknoll and HPU basketball player Kelly Grant remains close to his mentor, Tony Sellitto, there won't be a reunion with the Sea Warriors. Sellitto recently came out of retirement to coach there again, but Grant said he's quite content at Kaimuki.

Grant, a special education teacher, guided the Bulldogs to a state championship in the 2006-07 season.

At Kalaheo, Chico Furtado has no plans to change his address even though he has been a counselor at Maryknoll for a generation of students. Maryknoll recently opened its boys basketball coaching position and ground has been broken for a gym that could be completed within two years.

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