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Thursday, February 3, 2000

By Ken Ige, Star-Bulletin
The Rainbows got the best Hawaii could offer on the first day
of letters of intent when Chad Kahale, left, and Timmy Chang
of St. Louis committed to Hawaii.

UH recruits:
the best class?

By Paul Arnett
Star-Bulletin

June Jones was feeling good enough yesterday about his second recruiting class to call it the best one in Rainbows history.

The University of Hawaii head coach may get an argument or two from Bob Wagner, whose 1988 class included National Football League players Jeff Sydner, Jason Elam and Maa Tanuvasa. That class eventually led the Rainbows to an 11-2 season that included a Holiday Bowl win over Illinois.

But considering Hawaii signed every local player it wanted, why rain on Jones' parade.

"I've talked to a lot of people who've been here for many years and they believe this is the best class," Jones said. "We're very excited about what has transpired.

"Obviously, our success that we had on the football field has carried over. I think the Oahu Bowl helped us tremendously. Some of our mainland kids all got a chance to see our game. You can't put a figure on what the national exposure puts on your program."

Hawaii received 18 letters of intent yesterday. The Rainbows expect to have all 25 on board by the end of today, including 14 recruits with local ties. That's a number no coach at Hawaii has ever reached.

"When I came here I said that the local recruiting was going to be the reason we made it or not," Jones said. "And I'll tell you this class right here is a great group of football players. But every guy we signed is also a great kid. That's what I'm impressed with is the character of these kids. It's going to be fun coaching them."

By George F. Lee, Star-Bulletin
Under the lead of coach June Jones, the UH football program
has become a magnet for local prep players.

The offensive line is where the Rainbows will receive the most help from this class. Hawaii signed six in all, including local standout Uriah Moenoa, who is considered one of the 50 best nationwide at his position.

"Our offensive line especially is impressive because historically these guys have been opting to go away to places like Nebraska, Colorado and Oregon. Keeping these guys at home is huge."

Jones already has two junior college quarterbacks enrolled in school. They are Jared Flint of Orange Coast (Calif.) College and Nick Rolovich of City College of San Francisco.

This spring, they will be competing with returnees Mike Harrison, Shawn Withy-Allen and Kevin Gilbride.

Hawaii also signed three local prep quarterbacks, including all-everything standout Timmy Chang of St. Louis School.

"I think all the quarterbacks we have can play," Jones said. "There's going to be competition wherever you go. I told all of them that the best guy is going to play whether he's a senior or a freshman. I tell all our recruits that."

HAWAII'S SIGNINGS Junior college x-Jared Flint, QB, Orange Coast College, Calif., 6-6, 205 x-Kevin Millhouse, DB, Mt. San Antonio College, Calif, 6-1, 190 x-Nick Rolovich, QB, City College of San Francisco, 6-2, 210 x-already enrolled in school. High school Isaiah Alameda, LB, Kamehameha, 6-1, 215 Justin Ayat, PK, Kamehameha, 5-11, 195 Tim Chang, QB, St. Louis, 6-2, 185 Jonathan Ekno, OL, Servite H.S., Anaheim, Calif., 6-6, 280 Tyson Hampton, CB, Florin H.S., Sacramento, Calif., 6-0, 182 Watson Hoohuli, LB, Kamehameha, 6-0, 215 William Jackson, OL, Cass Tech, Detroit, Mich., 6-3, 280 Chad Kahale, OL, St. Louis, 6-3, 300 Phil Kauffman, OL, St. Louis, 6-1, 275 Chad Kapanui, QB/DB, Roosevelt, 6-0, 207 Matt Manuma, QB, Radford, 6-1, 195 Uriah Moenoa, OL, Iolani, 6-3, 330 Ryan Santos, OL, Mililani, 6-5, 292 Mark Tate, WR, Hoover H.S., San Diego, 6-1, 200 Ken Witherspoon, RB/LB, Cass Tech, Detroit, Mich, 6-2, 227 Verbal commitments, paperwork not submitted Houston Ala, LB, Kamehameha, 6-1, 215 Greg Kleidon, P, Santa Monica JC, 6-1, 190 Michael Littlefield, OL, , Mt. San Antonio College, Calif., 6-2, 290 Leonard Peters, DB, Kahuku, 6-1, 175 Gerald Welch, WR, St. Louis, 5-9, 180 Orlando Wong, WR, Kahuku, 6-0, 180 GOING ELSEWHERE Western Oregon Ransen Rodrigues, LB, Farrington, 6-2, 200 Damien Cole, RB, St. Louis, 5-9, 190. Paulo Futi, QB, Pac-Five, 6-1, 190

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