Sunday, January 27, 2002
[ HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL ]
Kahuku defensive lineman Jonathan Mapu is among 55 athletes named to the Parade All-America High School Football team. Mapu joins All-America parade
Star-Bulletin staff
The full team was scheduled to appear in today's edition of Parade, a national magazine included with the Sunday Star-Bulletin.
Mapu, a three-year starter for the Red Raiders, was named the Star-Bulletin's state defensive player of the year and helped lead Kahuku to the past two state championships. He was a first-team all-state selection as a junior as well.
"His work ethic is good and he's determined to be the best in everything he does," Kahuku coach Siuaki Livai said. "He's very quiet, but he really works hard."
Mapu, a 6-foot-3, 250-pound defensive end, is one of the state's prized recruits. He has narrowed his college choices to Hawaii, Washington, Brigham Young and Tennessee. He took his recruiting visit to Hawaii this weekend.
"He's the kind of athlete you look for that can do almost anything," Livai said. "He can be your best tight end, he'd also be your best d-end or defensive tackle. He might even be the best middle linebacker if we put him there. If I wanted to win at all cost, I would have put him at fullback too."
The Parade team is selected by a panel of coaches, scouts and recruiters. Lorenzo Booker, a running back from Ventura, Calif., and Vincent Young, a quarterback from Houston, were named the of the year.
The Parade All-America team was founded in 1963. Nine all-Americans have gone on to win the Heisman Trophy.
"Any time you have this kind of thing for Hawaii, it's just a great thing for everyone, not just for him, his family, our school." Livai said. "With more and more Hawaii guys making the big time, it sends out the message that we do have football programs here in Hawaii. That's the good thing about it."
Hawaii School Web Sites