Contrary to reports published in two Seattle newspapers, Kahuku football standout Jonathan Mapu has not verbally committed to attend Washington next year. Seattle papers jump the
gun on MapuBy Jason Kaneshiro
jkaneshiro@starbulletin.comMapu, considered one of the nation's best high school defensive linemen, visited the Seattle campus this past weekend. But Kahuku coach Siuaki Livai said Mapu still plans to take at least two more trips before making a decision.
"He's going to Nebraska and Tennessee and we'll see from there," Livai said.
Mapu, who stands 6 foot 3, 250 pounds, is rated No. 33 in the Rivals 100, which rates the nation's top recruits. Iolani defensive lineman Donny Mateaki is ranked No. 72.
Rivals.com also ranks Mapu as the third best strongside defensive end in the country. Mateaki is sixth. Kamehameha's Brandon Ala is the ninth-rated weakside defensive end.
More holiday hoops: The Walter Wong Basketball Classic tips off Dec. 27 at McCabe Gym with two local teams joining squads from Alaska, Guam and California.
Guam, Kailua and host St. Louis make up the Red bracket. The Blue Bracket will feature Colony (Alaska), La Habra (Calif.) and Northwood (Calif.). The teams will play each squad in the opposite bracket during the three-day tournament.
St. Louis opens the tournament by facing Colony on Dec. 27 at 4:30 p.m. Kailua takes on Northwood at 6 p.m., while Guam faces La Habra at 7:30.
The action continues the next day with La Habra playing Kailua at 4:30 p.m., Colony playing Guam at 6 and St. Louis taking on Northwood at 7:30.
The tournament concludes Dec. 29 with Northwood facing Guam at 4:30 p.m., St. Louis playing La Habra at 6 and Kailua facing Colony at 7:30.
Tournament organizers had to scramble to fill out the tournament schedule after three mainland schools and one from Canada dropped out following the Sept. 11 attacks.
Galena High School of Nevada was scratched when the state's schools superintendent imposed a ban on out-of-state travel for teams. The administration of Seton Catholic High School of Arizona also pulled its team out of the tournament after the attacks.
Parents of players at Bishop High School in California didn't want their sons to make the flight across the Pacific. And Pickering High of Canada couldn't get approval for the trip from the school's administration.
National title for Hall: King Kekaulike graduate Leahi Hall enjoyed the high of a national title as a member of the Stanford women's volleyball team. The Cardinal captured the title by sweeping Long Beach State on Saturday.
Hall, a freshman defensive specialist and outside hitter for the Cardinal, played in six matches this season. She was the Maui Interscholastic League's player of the year and a first-team All-State selection last year.
Schools score: Three Oahu schools were awarded more than $20,000 worth of adidas and Wilson athletic equipment for their participation in the Kraft Shop and Score promotion.
Word of Life Academy was the big winner, receiving $12,656 worth of equipment for collecting UPC symbols from Kraft products. Pearl City earned $5,045 and McKinley won $2,521.
In all, Kraft Foods Hawaii presented a total of $30,000 worth of gear and uniforms to 21 schools.