As expected, Saint Louis offensive lineman Jeremy Inferrera orally committed to accept a football scholarship from Hawaii yesterday. The Star-Bulletin's No. 9 prospect in the state joins three other top-10 recruits in the Warriors class. Inferrera chooses Hawaii
over Arizona StateBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comCrusaders athletic director Cal Lee said Inferrera will join his brother, wide receiver Daniel Inferrera, at Manoa.
Inferrera, 6-foot-3 and 270 pounds, visited Arizona State last week.
"I could see how other people might like it, but it wasn't the right place for me," Inferrera said of ASU.
Also, an offensive lineman from California who was born in Hawaii is leaning toward UH (if he gets an offer from the Warriors) over Fresno State and a defensive back from the Big Island appears headed for Wisconsin.
Feb. 5 is the first day high school players can make their commitments binding.
Long Beach Poly center Hercules Satele is trying to arrange an official visit to Fresno State this weekend and has one scheduled at UH on Jan. 31, according to his coach, Raul Lara.
Satele, who was born in Hawaii, said last night if he had to pick between UH and Fresno State, he would choose the Warriors.
"I've got a lot of family there, including Samson," he said, referring to UH offensive lineman Samson Satele, his cousin.
Hercules Satele was on the Poly team that beat Kahuku 42-16 last fall in the First Hawaiian Bank/HHSAA Prep Football Classic at Aloha Stadium. He said it was the first time he'd been to Hawaii since his family moved when he was 6.
"He's very intelligent and excellent technique-wise," Lara said of the three-year starter. "He's versatile, too. He played offensive tackle the two previous years."
Several Pac-10 schools recruited Satele last fall, but his name fell off their charts when they received early commitments. Also, at 6-foot-2 and 260 pounds, Satele is considered small for a major-college offensive lineman. But UH, with its passing attack, looks for nimble offensive linemen. Satele said he runs 40 yards in 4.9 seconds and bench presses 335 pounds.
Satele has a grade-point average around 3.0, but needs to improve his SAT score, he said. He retakes the test Saturday.
"If the test score doesn't work out, Fresno State said they would take me as a (partial qualifier)," he said. "But I'd rather qualify and play for Hawaii."
Satele said former UH defensive back Daniel Ho-Ching, a Poly graduate, is a friend of his and has been talking up playing for the Warriors.
Hawaii is still waiting on an answer from Aiea offensive lineman Brandon Rodd (No. 6). He visits Arizona State tomorrow and considers it a toss-up with UH, Oregon and San Diego State also in the mix.
Meanwhile, 6-foot-2, 200-pound Kealakehe safety James Kamoku will likely make an oral commitment to Wisconsin soon. He visited Madison in December.
"It looks like he's leaning that way. It helps that they have local guys on the team," said his father, Solomon Kamoku. "He's having a meeting Saturday with the assistant coach who's recruiting him. He visited UH last week, but there was no offer."
Kealakehe coach Sam Papalii said the offer from Wisconsin is contingent on an improved SAT score. Kamoku has a 3.5 grade point average, Papalii said.
"He's smart. It's just a matter of getting focused on the test," Papalii said. "He's a good person and a fantastic athlete."
Kamoku made nearly 100 tackles and caught nine touchdown passes in 12 games last season, Papalii said.
On the trail: Another offensive lineman, Kahuku's Joe Napeahi (No. 16) is among the recruits visiting UH this weekend. ... Record-setting Baytown, Texas, quarterback Drew Tate has committed to Iowa. Tate expressed strong interest in Hawaii after rescinding his commitment to Texas A&M after the Aggies' head-coaching change.
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