No, he's not applying for Hawaii defensive coordinator. And, no, he didn't come to fetch the screwdriver a fan supposedly threw at UH coach June Jones during their game at Fresno, Calif., last year. Fresno State’s Hill
Hardimon signs with Chaminade
watches practiceBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comFresno State coach Pat Hill was at the Warriors spring practice yesterday just to hang out with Jones; despite the annual game-week bluster from both sides of one of the Western Athletic Conference's most intense rivalries, Hill and Jones are friends.
"We've known each other a long time. I respect him a lot," Hill said. "I'm on vacation. Just brought the boys (his sons, Zach and Matt) to watch practice for a little while and then go to the North Shore, have some fun."
Hill and Jones spent much of yesterday's practice standing together on the sideline.
"We just talked about normal stuff, looking at some of the players, talking about players and situations," Hill said. "Next year, who we're going to play, who they're going to play."
Hill said one reason for his visit to Hawaii is he's scouting colleges for Matt, a high school sophomore and defensive back in football.
"I know he wants to be near the beach. I don't know if he'll be good enough for Division I football, but it's time to start looking. This is a very nice campus. It's my first time on campus," Hill said. "I think June does a great job with his program. I'd love to have my son play for a program like that."
When Hill mentioned to Jones he was coming to Hawaii this spring, Jones invited him to stop by practice. Jones isn't worried about giving up any secrets.
"If he's not smart enough to know what we do by watching film, we're one up on him already," said Jones, who knows Hill from when Jones was an assistant coach with the Houston Oilers in 1987 and 1988 and Hill had a similar role with the Cleveland Browns.
"Pat's a competitive guy and a good guy. He's good for our conference. We're all in it together," Jones said.
Hill said Fresno State's dropping of four sports this week is symptomatic of widespread economic problems.
"Any time sports are dropped for financial reasons it's a bad thing. But we're in a time all over this country where things are being cut. It's not just sports," Hill said. "People are losing their jobs every day. It's just part of the landscape now. It has nothing to do with athletics. Things have to be cut at times."
Eye-opener: The UH coaching staff was already excited about the potential of basketball forward-turned-defensive end Nkeruwem "Tony" Akpan, even before looking at some jaw-dropping tape Tuesday of his first team drills.
Defensive line coach Vantz Singletary said the 6-foot-8, 240-pound Akpan is hard for anyone to block, and is displaying outstanding football instinct for someone who never played before.
Jones said after a few practices it appears Akpan has a real chance of making a contribution to the Warriors.
"Tony kind of confirms that (basketball) is where all our tight ends and defensive ends are playing now. He's only been out here seven or eight days, but you can tell he has the chance to be a football player," Jones said. "I'm kind of excited about what he might be two years from now."
Jones said Akpan will probably end up with a football scholarship, freeing up the one he has for basketball.
"We're going to work that out and take care of him and hopefully that benefits the basketball team, too," he said.
Got speed?: Three installments of the Hawaii Speed and Quickness Clinic will be held in coming weeks. The dates are April 26-27, May 3-4 and May 10-11.
The clinics, for ages 8 and up, are hosted by Warriors defensive backs coach Rich Miano and strength and conditioning coach Mel deLaura, with the assistance of UH athletes.
The cost is $10 and more information is available at 671-3812.
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Moanalua two-sport star Patti Hardimon signed to attend Chaminade and play volleyball for Glennie Adams, the school said yesterday. Moanalua’s Hardimon
signs with ChaminadeBy Jerry Campany
jcampany@starbulletin.comHardimon, a 5-foot-7 middle blocker, was a Star-Bulletin first-team all-state selection in volleyball last fall.
She also plays basketball. Hardimon was a second-team all-state selection by the Star-Bulletin last spring.
"It is a very good signing, we are really excited," Adams said. "She has really nice jumping ability and a solid, solid academic background."
Adams said that Hardimon also considered North Carolina but opted to stay home.
The Silverswords reached the NCAA tournament for the first time last year, losing in the first round.
Chaminade also signed a slew of men's basketball players, all junior college transfers.
The Silverswords received commitments from Dustin Mittelsteadt of Hutchinson, Minn., Craig Shackelford of Aurora, Ill., and Zach Whiting from Chico, Calif.
Mittelsteadt averaged 18 points and 14 rebounds at Vermillion Community College, while Whiting put up 11.5 points and 7.7 assists for Feather River College. Shackelford sat out last season to complete his associate's degree, but averaged 13 points and 8.4 rebounds at Jacksonville College in Texas two years ago.
Hilo grows a wing: Steven McMaryien committed to the Hawaii-Hilo basketball team Wednesday.
The 6-foot-4 wingman from West Los Angeles College averaged 15.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists this past season and will have two years of eligibility remaining.
"He's a very tough player," Hilo coach Jeff Law said. "Steve can guard players from the point to center. He's very athletic and plays above the rim similar to former Vulcan Stanley Ibia."
Hilo softball getting stronger: The Hilo softball program inked the best local player available again this year, adding Mililani's Miki Asamura to a pitching staff that includes Leo Sing Chow.
Asamura, a Star-Bulletin first-team all-state choice the past two seasons, joined local products Jocelyn Tamayo of Iolani, Chelsea Rice of Waiakea and Sabrina Mindoro of Baldwin in signing with the program Wednesday. Hilo coach Callen Perreira also said Mililani's BJ Shimamoto -- a three-time Star-Bulletin first-team pick -- Haunani Haasenritter of Hilo and Zoie Sevilla of Baldwin will join the team.
Mainland players Jeannie Jodloe (Mesa, Ariz.), Chelsea Osburn (Temecula, Calif.), Lara Kimborowidz (Anaheim, Calif.) and Jennifer McCorkhill (Hacienda Heights, Calif.) round out the list of those who signed.
Final four: Hilo assistant athletic director Jim Demello said that he has narrowed his list of candidates for the school's vacant volleyball coaching slot to four and has contacted two of them to schedule interviews.
Demello would not release the names of the finalists until he had contacted all of them, but said if any of them pulled out he would replace them with other candidates.
Among those who applied but had not been contacted for interviews yesterday are Ka'u head coach Guy Enriquez, who recruited the team's group of seniors when he worked under then head coach Sharon Peterson; Montana State-Billings head coach Paulasi Matavao; and Brigham Young-Hawaii assistant Mike Apo. The good news for them is that they did not receive rejection letters, which means they are among the nine finalists but not necessarily in the final four.