Highly touted cornerback commits to UH
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
One of the best high school football players in Southern California has accepted a football scholarship from the University of Hawai'i.
Andrew John "A.J." Martinez of Edison High in Huntington Beach, Calif., will put his commitment in writing Wednesday, the first day high school seniors may sign binding national letters of intent.
"I love the attitude of the players and coaches, and Hawai'i seems like a place I'd like to live for the next few years," Martinez said.
"Hawai'i is getting one of the best players I've ever coached," said Dave White, who has been Edison's head coach for 23 years.
Martinez was named to the All Southern Section all-star team, which is comprised of high schools in Southern California.
In addition, he was named to the California Interscholastic Federation's Division I all-star team. The Los Angeles Times and Orange County Register selected him as the Orange County Back of the Year.
Martinez, who is 6 feet and 185 pounds, played cornerback, halfback and receiver. He also punted, kicked field goals and returned punts and kickoffs.
"He's the Jim Thorpe of our league," White said. "He did everything."
Martinez is expected to compete at cornerback for the Warriors.
He also will play for the UH baseball team. White said Martinez is Edison's starting center fielder.
"He's very fast," White said, noting Martinez can run 40 yards in an electronically timed 4.4 seconds.
"He's a great cover cornerback," Edison assistant coach Harry Schmidt said. "He had seven interceptions (in 2000), but only one this season, and that's because nobody threw a pass near him."
When Edison's starting running back suffered an injury, Martinez doubled as a tailback "and became a 100-yard-a-game running back for us," Schmidt said.
Martinez took recruiting trips to Oregon, San Diego State and Hawai'i. But after returning from the Islands Sunday night, he decided to play for the Warriors. He announced his decision to the Edison coaches Tuesday night.
"He really likes the Hawai'i program," White said.
White said Martinez became interested in the Warriors after watching their nationally televised 72-45 victory over BYU.
"I think everybody who saw the BYU game got excited about Hawai'i," White said. "He was one of them."
