Tuesday, January 22, 2002
UH gets help, Hawaii landed three recruits, but lost out to Washington for one of the state's best college football prospects yesterday.
but Ala chooses UW
Brandon Ala, the state's No. 2
prospect, chooses WashingtonBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comThe Warriors secured two players who might help right away on the defensive line, and a possible future standout on the offensive front after they visited UH over the weekend.
But Kamehameha's Brandon Ala, No. 2 on the Star-Bulletin's Top 10 list of the state's high school prospects, made a verbal agreement to accept a scholarship from Washington.
"I just felt real comfortable there," the 6-foot-3, 210-pound defensive end said. "All the schools have been telling me I could play right away, so that wasn't really a factor."
Ala chose the Huskies after narrowing his choices to Washington, Oregon, and Hawaii, which he'd visited over the weekend. The Star-Bulletin first-team all-stater decided not to attend UH although his father and two brothers have played there.
"It's his choice all the way," said his father, Tui Ala.
Three commitments for the trenches took some of the sting out of losing Ala for the Warriors.
Defensive tackle Matt Faga and defensive end Darrell Tautofi graduated from Kaimuki High School in 2000. After junior college ball at Fresno City College for Faga and at Dixie College for Tautofi, they return to play for UH.
Faga is 6-2 inches and 320. He can help shore up the Warriors defensive front. Kaimuki coach Ron Oyama described Faga as a big man who is also a good athlete.
Tautofi is 6-4 and 270. He was also recruited by Brigham Young and Houston. His father, Fau, said Darrell told him he committed to the Warriors yesterday.
St. Louis School offensive lineman Mesepa Reed, a Star-Bulletin first-team all-state selection, also verbally committed to Hawaii yesterday, said Crusaders coach Cal Lee.
Reed chose Hawaii over UCLA, among other schools. He is 6-5 and 237. Lee said he expects him to become a standout college player when he fills out.
"He's got good feet, strong bones. He's a strong kid. Potentially, he's one of the good ones," Lee said. "I think he's a competitor. Once he puts on the weight, with that frame and his long arms, I don't think it will be very long before he makes an impact."
Reed anchored the St. Louis line at left tackle. The Crusaders allowed only 13 sacks in 317 pass attempts last season.
Reed joins Kailua's Samson Satele, Kahai LaCount and Marques Kaonohi, Punahou's Dane Uperesa and Kahuku's Kalavi Blanchard as verbal commitments to the Warriors in what looks to be a plentiful recruiting crop for UH at offensive line.
Hawaii, which got a verbal commitment from Kamehameha defensive tackle Abu Ma'afala on Sunday, is also hoping to secure the top prospect in the state in Kahuku defensive end Jonathan Mapu.
Mapu's mother, Maryann, said Jonathan told her he enjoyed his visit to Tennessee over the weekend, but she said he did not indicate if he was leaning to committing there.
Faimealelei progresses: Justin Faimealelei is making academic progress to qualify for entry to UH and will likely be in fall football camp, his high school coach at Kaimuki, Ron Oyama, said.
Faimealelei, an all-around athlete who can play wide receiver, linebacker or defensive back, was offered a scholarship last year but did not qualify academically. The 1999 Star-Bulletin all-stater is taking classes at Hawaii Pacific, Oyama said.
"I just talked to him Friday," the coach said. "He's doing well and should be ready for next season."
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