There are different ways to fend off suitors.

Some folks would rather abstain from commitment until the last minute. Others commit, then change their minds. Such is the case with Kapolei's star offensive lineman, Stan Hasiak.

The 6-foot-6, 330-pound guard/tackle was already the target of many Division I universities—the high GPA and SAT score didn't hurt—before he turned in a superb performance at the Under Armour All-American game.

That's the easy part. The tough part is dealing with recruiters. Hasiak committed to UCLA during the season, then recently decommitted and gave Cal his word. Meanwhile, he still has two more schools to visit.

It's a merry-go-round for recruiters. For most people, being hounded would be a stressful way to live.

For Hasiak? It can't be too bad. He knew it was coming.

“;I told him and his dad a long time ago it was going to be a high-pressure situation,”; Kapolei coach Darren Hernandez said. “;He was 6-4, 280 pounds in the ninth grade. He's a good kid, good grades—I knew he'd be heavily recruited.”;

Even if the talented scholar-athlete is finding a thread of enjoyment as he weaves through the recruiting maze, Hernandez prefers his players to simplify.

“;As much as Manti Te'o (of Punahou) is taking his time and people don't like the way he's handling it, he's doing it the right way,”; Hernandez said.

Te'o, one of the nation's most heavily recruited players, pared his list of offers to five during the fall. The linebacker has been mum about his preferences since. Like Te'o, Hasiak has an offer on the table from USC.

Hasiak isn't the only Hurricane taking his game to the next level. Cornerback Kalani Brackenridge (6-0, 175) has offers from Washington State and Idaho. He visited Utah State last week, and New Mexico and Wyoming are interested. Brackenridge is also a shortstop on the baseball team, and most of the schools interested in him don't have baseball programs.

New Mexico, which has a solid baseball team, may trip Brackenridge next weekend.

Safety/linebacker/running back Cyril Ontai will visit Navy next weekend.

“;They have their banquet then, so they wanted him to be there,”; Hernandez said.

Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo, a former Radford and UH athlete, has his own corps of recruiters in former Kapolei standouts Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada and Aaron Santiago.

“;My gut feeling is that he'll end up at Navy. He's perfect for that team,”; Hernandez said of the 5-10, 205-pound senior. “;He could play fullback or outside 'backer.”;

Hernandez added that Simione Vehikite is visiting USC this weekend. The 6-1, 245-pound linebacker/fullback committed to the Trojans last month and hosted coach Pete Carroll and his wife two weeks ago.

“;They love him. They're asking him, 'What number do you want to be?' Pete is thinking of putting in a package for him with fullback screens,”; Hernandez said.

One reason why Kapolei players get direct contact from college recruiters is Hernandez's tenacity. The veteran coach puts hours into editing and producing video footage that gets sent out during his players' junior seasons. Already, a Division II school in Missouri has taken an interest in Kapolei quarterback Noah Pascua.

Other Kapolei juniors, like Dustin Elisara and Shaydon Ahuna, will likely attract attention soon, Hernandez said.

Players like Kaheaku-Enhada and Hasiak have also opened doors for their teammates.

“;The reason USC discovered Simi is because they were recruiting Stan,”; Hernandez said. “;I love to win, but getting kids into college and trying to better their lives, that's what's been exciting to me. That is why I'm in it.”;

Coach K's effect

Former Baldwin coach Chad Kauhaahaa became quite a recruiter when he was hired at Division I-AA Weber State a few years ago. Now that he's at Utah State—a member of the Western Athletic Conference—his impact remains substantial.

Hawaii Prep two-way lineman Mika Nickel (6-2, 245) became the latest of Kauhaahaa's recruits from the islands—the first this offseason to USU.

“;First of all, it's free to go to school for me and my family,”; Nickel said yesterday during his visit to Utah State. “;I'm very excited. I really like it.”;

Nickel also plays offensive line, but will focus on defensive end for the Aggies, where Kauhaahaa will be his position coach. Nickel's other offers came from Portland State and St. Francis (Pa.).