Wednesday, February 3, 1999
’Bows land ‘blue-
chip’ prospect
Pisa Tinoisamoa is listed
By Paul Arnett
among the top 100 high school
recruits by The Sporting News
Star-BulletinHawaii head coach June Jones began his first year of recruiting by signing the best high school prospect the Rainbows have seen this decade.
San Diego's Pisa Tinoisamoa said yesterday that he will sign a letter of intent with Hawaii. The 6-foot-2, 225-pounder not only was the San Diego Union-Tribune's defensive player of the year, he was listed among the top 100 high school recruits by The Sporting News as well.
"He's a great football player who we believe can help us," Jones said this morning. "He's a true blue-chip prospect."
Major problems off the field kept top-flight programs such as Texas, UCLA, Colorado and Arizona from pursuing Tinoisamoa, who played on both sides of the ball at Vista High in the highly regarded Palomar League of north San Diego.
Prior to his senior season, Tinoisamoa was linked to a North County tagging spree between rival gangs that resulted in major property damage. He also faces sentencing from a fight he and his brother were involved in late last year.
The district attorney is seeking 15 months in prison, but it's likely the judge will give him probation, now that he has signed a letter of intent with the Rainbows.
San Diego State and Fresno State also recruited Tinoisamoa, who is reportedly 30 points shy on his SAT from being academically eligible. But his off-the-field problems kept them from offering this California standout a scholarship.
"One of the things he and I talked about is that he needs to be as mentally tough off the field as he is on it," Vista High head coach Steve Silberman told the San Diego Union-Tribune last summer.
"With all the junk that went on during the off-season, when he had to take care of business in the classroom, he did. You have to remember, these are still kids. They do crazy things sometimes."
Tinoisamoa has also done some great things on the field. As a junior, he was the San Diego Union-Tribune's offensive player of the year after he carried the ball 210 times for 1,356 yards and 13 touchdowns. He is the only high school player in San Diego history to be named offensive and defensive player of the year.
If he isn't academically sound, it's likely he will enroll at Leeward Community College. He has an aunt who lives in Hawaii. She would be his guardian.
"Pisa is a kid that just makes plays," Silberman said. "He has that special aura around him."
Tinoisamoa is the top pick for the Rainbows, but certainly not the only one. Hawaii also received commitments from three Star-Bulletin All-State players.
Farrington High School defensive lineman Lance Samuseva and offensive lineman Vince Manuwai, and Kahuku High linebacker Pati Mailo signed letters of intent to play for the Rainbows.
"Pati was all set to go to Utah, but the Hawaii coaches came in and did a good job of convincing him to stay home," Kahuku head coach Sivaki Livai said last night. "He was the backbone of our defense. I believe he can play right away before he goes on his mission."
The 6-2, 240-pounder was a central figure in the Red Raiders' stellar season and is the headline act of the six Hawaii players who opted to remain home.
Jones hopes to double that number next year, but was pleased his coaching staff was able to change the mind of Manuwai.
Jones also made some headway at St. Louis School. Three players -- offensive linemen Shayne Kajioka and Keola Loo, and defensive lineman Kanoa Saulsberry -- committed to UH a month ago. Kajioka was a second team all-state lineman for the Crusaders.
Hawaii did fairly well with its mainland recruiting as well. The only quarterback to sign for the Rainbows was Mike Harrison of Mayfair High in Lakewood, Calif. He passed for 2,914 yards and 33 touchdowns his senior season.
With the recruiting influence of new defensive coordinator Greg McMackin, the Rainbows expect to sign several top junior college prospects, including defensive backs Marcus Thomas and Dedrick Miller of Northwest Mississippi College.
He also helped land talented defensive end Keyonta Marshall of Saginaw High, who could be a key factor down the road.
In all, Hawaii recruited 14 junior college players. Fred VonAppen signed only eight his first year. It wasn't the approach Jones wanted to take, but he needed to shore up the secondary and defensive line, and the junior college route proved to be the best avenue.
In addition to the two defensive backs from Mississippi, Jones signed cornerback Travis Campbell of Laney College in Oakland and Tony Vaughn of Grossmont (Calif.) College.
Two other Northwest Mississippi College players -- offensive tackle Darryl Miller and defensive tackle Kaman Saulsberry -- also will join UH this fall.
Utah wins recruiting
war in HawaiiThe Utes come away with the cream
By Pat Bigold
of the isle crop, signing seven players
Star-BulletinWhile California and Arizona were landing the signatures of Hawaii's top two prep football recruits on national letter of intent day, Utah was expected to come away with more island athletes than any other Division I school.
The Utes, who had a dozen players with Hawaii origins on their roster last season, received verbal commitments from seven players.
Fifteen to 20 Hawaii players were to sign letters with mainland Division I programs today.
California got the offensive pearl of the islands: Iolani's record-breaking running back Joe Igber Jr.
A two-time Star-Bulletin all-state offensive player of the year, Igber has often been described by opposing coaches and other observers as a "Barry Sanders type of runner" for his size and cutting ability.
He owns state career records for total yards, touchdowns and points.
Igber is equally adept in the classroom, having earned 4.0 grade point averages in his first two quarters this school year.
Star-Bulletin all-state defensive player of the year Joe Siofele, also an honors student, chose to sign with Arizona.
He said he chose the Wildcats because of the "environment and the coaches." He expects to be used at inside linebacker.
Kahuku's 6-4, 300-pound all-state left guard Toniu Fonoti was one of the last players to commit. He said last night he will sign this morning with Nebraska. Fonoti had also made visits to Arizona, Kentucky, Colorado and BYU.
Fonoti hopes to eventually join former St. Louis all-stater Dominic Raiola on the Cornhuskers' offensive line.
These local recruits are headed to mainland schools: Raided
PAC-10
California: Joe Igber, RB, Iolani; Wayne Hunter, DE/OLB, Radford.
WAC
BIG 12
BIG WEST
