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FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM Kevin Sullivan of Saint Louis has an offer to play running back at the Air Force Academy.

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Colleges keeping
an eye on Ingrams

CORRECTION Tuesday, December 28, 2004 » The Mililani graduate being recruited by several schools to play football is Jake Ingram, not Ingrams, as reported Sunday on Page B5. The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at corrections@starbulletin.com.

Jake Ingrams is the man in the shadows of Cooke Field's mile-high lightposts.

Somewhere, while Honolulu sleeps, he is busy. Lifting weights. Running stairs. Doing speed and quickness workouts.

When coaches say there's someone -- Profile A -- out there working hard while you -- Profile B -- are partying and downing mass quantities of junk food, Ingrams is Profile A.

The 6-foot-3, 225-pounder isn't a high school senior, nor is he on any NCAA roster. He's the 'tweener who made a conscious decision to take a year off and bite bullets. After all the work, he's in a new position. Oregon State has been interested in him since he gained 25 pounds, mostly muscle, in the past year. Idaho is contemplating a scholarship offer to the former Mililani Trojan.

Hawaii, which sees him work out regularly, wants him to walk on.

Surprisingly enough, Ingrams is leaning toward one of the Western Athletic Conference schools, where he would likely get more playing time.

Whatever his choice, it is a chapter in life that is about perseverance. He was neither a blue-chip prospect nor a non-qualifying junior-college candidate. He had the grades, the test scores, and now, he has the opportunity to play Division I football.

Here's a look at recent news about local prep prospects:

Savaiigaea chooses UH The Hawaii football team got a nice Christmas present yesterday, and so did the family of Rocky Savaiigaea. "I gave Coach (Ron) Lee my verbal commitment to go to UH today," said Savaiigaea, one of the state's top defensive tackle prospects. Savaiigaea, who goes to Aiea, is 6-feet-3 and 295 pounds. He was also recruited by San Diego State, Utah, Colorado, Idaho and UNLV. He had visits scheduled to most of those schools, but canceled them. "I visited UH for the Michigan State game, and I wanted to commit right then," he said. "But I knew I should wait and think about it. There are so many reasons for choosing UH. The biggest one is family. My parents have been season-ticket holders since before I was born. This is like a Christmas present to them." Savaiigaea said he also looks forward to challenging for playing time right away, since UH's top three defensive tackles -- Lui Fuga, Matt Faga and Darrell Tautofi -- are all seniors. "I know I'll have to work hard, because there are some good players still there, like Keala Watson and Fale (Laeli) had his surgery done and he'll be good too," Savaiigaea said. Savaiigaea plans to major in communications or public relations and someday work in the tourism industry. He still needs to get a qualifying SAT score before enrolling in UH, but is confident he will complete that soon. Savaiigaea can make his commitment official on Feb. 2, national letter of intent day. Dave Reardon

Offensive Line

As reported earlier this week in the Star-Bulletin, Punahou's Trask Iosefa orally committed to San Diego State. He is projected to play center, a position he felt comfortable playing during the HUB Goodwill Classic.

Ikaika Aken-Moleta of Kapolei visited San Diego State last week. The 6-2, 315-pound guard has visits to Oregon and Oregon State lined up for January.

Raphael Ieru's trip to Arizona State is scheduled for Jan. 21, but he takes his SAT on Jan. 22. The timing could complicate plans. Still, the 6-4, 315-pound guard is anticipating a visit to Hawaii during January. He's also playing basketball for McKinley.

Mililani's Aaron Kia has his heart set on Hawaii, but his mind tells him to take at least one visit.

"I owe it to myself," the 6-4, 260-pound tackle said.

Kia will visit Oregon in January. Ducks coach Mike Bellotti visited Kia's home on Monday.

"Oregon has better academics," said Kia, who is an excellent student. He has said from the start, however, that he likes Hawaii offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh.

"He is always sending guys to the NFL. It's a lower division of football compared to the Pac-10, but it's a better chance to shine. That's the major factor why I'm considering UH."

San Diego State had been interested in Kia earlier, but since hiring a new offensive line coach, has pulled away.

Kailua's Kainoa LaCount is leaning toward Oregon State, which has offered him a scholarship. He will visit the Corvallis campus on Jan. 7. The 6-7, 305-pound guard likes the OSU coaches, but he also likes Arizona State's coaches.

Idaho has expressed interest, but Hawaii has backed off for quite some time because LaCount has known that he wants to go away for college.

"It's nothing against their program. I just want to get out of here," said LaCount, who plays center for Kailua's basketball team. LaCount's brother, Kahai, is on scholarship at UH and has switched from the offensive line to the defensive line.

Arizona State and Michigan State are also interested in Kainoa and are waiting on his SAT scores.

Farrington's Shawn Sisifo Lauvao has visited Cal and Arizona State. Boise State (Jan. 7), Oregon (Jan. 14) and BYU (Jan. 21) are on the calendar.

Miami stepped into the picture this week, asking the 6-3, 310-pounder for video. It will take a lot, however, for any program to unseat Cal, a school that Lauvao was very impressed with. Hawaii is interested in Lauvao as a defensive lineman, but he prefers O-line.

Kamehameha center Tyler Williams received a scholarship offer from Ohio University, which recently hired former Nebraska coach Frank Solich to lead its program.

Williams has visited San Diego State and has trips lined up to Washington (Jan. 7) and Tennessee (Jan. 14).

Tight End

Kamu Kapanui of Kamehameha is close to confirming a visit with San Diego State. Ohio, which has some former New Mexico State assistants, has renewed interest in the 6-foot, 220-pounder.

His teammate, Waika Spencer, did not visit SDSU last week due to final exams.

The 6-4, 220-pound senior will visit the Aztecs (Jan. 7) and Idaho (Jan. 14). SDSU has already offered a scholarship to Spencer, a football-basketball-track standout. He suffered an ACL injury during the state tournament.

No word yet on Stanley Malamala, Lahainaluna's speedy 6-3, 220-pound tight end. He scored 40 points in one of the Lunas' basketball wins last week.

Wide Receiver

Spencer Hafoka of Kahuku will visit Oregon State (Jan. 7) and BYU (Jan. 14). The 6-foot, 180-pound speedster has no offers yet.

Prospects Matt Ching (Kaiser), Isaac Laupola (Campbell) and Jon Santos (Mililani) are waiting on SAT scores.

Running Back

Saint Louis' Kevin Sullivan has a scholarship offer from Air Force after visiting Colorado Springs on Dec. 11. Utah, however, has begun to inquire about the 5-8, 180-pound senior.

The Oahu Interscholastic Association Red East's leading rusher, Damien Torres, is a non-qualifier and will likely play at Orange Coast Community College or College of the Canyons, both in California.

Defensive Tackle

Tyson Alualu enjoyed his trip to Cal, and is narrowing down his choice of visits. He has four trips remaining and will choose from Arizona, BYU, Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon, Oregon State, Tennessee and Washington. Florida coach Urban Meyer had expressed interest in the Saint Louis senior, but there has been no confirmation beyond that.

The 6-2, 270-pounder is a qualifier. He was named the West Defensive Player of the Game at the HUB Classic.

Mika Kane of Kamehameha is another prospect who returned from Cal with a favorable impression. He has trips lined up to Oregon State (Jan. 7) and Michigan State (tentatively Jan. 14). Like LaCount, he is leaning toward going away for college. Meyer had also expressed interest in Kane, but there has been no further word.

Lahainaluna senior Fine Latu (6-1, 285) drew recent interest from Hawaii. He also played O-line for the Lunas.

Aiea's 1-2 punch of Rocky Savaiigaea and Malo Taumua are still heading in different directions, in all likelihood. Savaiigaea (6-3, 295) orally committed to Hawaii yesterday (see accompanying story). Taumua (6-2, 295) is very close to qualifying. His first choice is Utah, with Colorado close behind. He has family in both states.

Linebacker

Leilehua's B.J. Fruean is also waiting on SAT scores, but Utah and UNLV visited him recently and requested tape. He also had early interest from Colorado, Idaho and Hawaii.

Castle's Blaze Soares visited San Diego State last weekend. The 6-1, 210-pound senior is scheduled to visit BYU (Jan. 14) and Hawaii (Jan. 21).

Cornerback

Kahuku's Al Afalava, who has a 3.4 GPA, visited BYU last weekend. He will take trips to Oregon State (Jan. 7) and Washington (Jan. 14).

Safety

Kaiser's "slash" athlete, Shannon Wise, had expected to meet with Washington last week. However, the Huskies never called. San Diego State had also shown interest in the shifty 6-1, 180-pound senior. Hawaii was in touch much of the season, but hasn't called since the HUB Classic.

UH has a history of asking defensive backs to walk on. Rich Miano, who coaches the defensive backs, was a walk-on from Kaiser who went on to play for the New York Jets.

Wise is already a qualifier (3.5 GPA, 870 SAT) and expects to play outside linebacker or safety in college. He played quarterback and defensive end at Kaiser.

Special Teams

Saint Louis placekicker Jeremy Shea is drawing interest from Ohio, Utah and Weber State.

Gems in the Rough

Farrington defensive end John Fonoti has excellent explosiveness, but is a non-qualifier. He could wind up at outside linebacker at the next level. ... Mililani guard Sene Ma'afala is still on the radar for Oregon State and Hawaii as a defensive lineman. Oregon State likes him as a nose guard. Academics will determine his next step. ... Kamehameha's Jayson Rego (5-7, 185) has heard from smaller colleges, like Menlo. He's already a qualifier (3.3 GPA, 1070 SAT), but D-I schools are shying away from the Interscholastic League of Honolulu's leading rusher, probably because of his height.

Going, Going ...

USC reeled in Baldwin linebacker Kaluka Maiava before the season even started. The Trojans identified the 6-foot, 215-pound speedster as the No. 2 linebacker in the nation after watching him at the top West Coast summer camps. ... Brashton Satele committed to Hawaii in early December. The 6-2, 240-pound multi-sport standout could switch from linebacker to defensive end. He also played running back at Pac-Five.