Posted on: Saturday, February 2,2002

FOOTBALL
UH gets American Samoa's top player

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

The University of Hawai'i football team has secured a commitment from the top high school athlete in American Samoa.

"It was my dream to play in Hawai'i," said Mel Purcell Jr. of Leoni High, "and my dream came true."

Purcell, who is 6 feet 5 and 230 pounds, was used as a wide receiver, tight end and linebacker. He will compete at either linebacker or defensive end at UH.

Purcell also plays basketball and volleyball, and is both a sprinter and long-jumper on the track and field team. Leoni coach Francis Tuitele said Purcell can dunk a basketball off a 360-degree move and run 40 yards in 4.6 seconds.

"He's the top player in American Samoa," Tuitele said.

Purcell received offers from Oregon, Fresno State and Brigham Young. "I was surprised when Hawai'i called," Purcell said. "I wanted to go to Hawai'i so badly."

He said he has several relatives living on O'ahu, including Samson Satele, a Kailua High offensive lineman who verbally committed to UH last month.

"I feel comfortable in Hawai'i," he said. "It's just like here."

Purcell, who has a 3.6 cumulative grade-point average, is not expected to have any problems meeting the academic requirements to play as a college freshman.

Purcell said he always has been a sports enthusiast, but after watching the movie, "The Program," he begged his parents for permission to play football.

Leoni won the high school championship, and Purcell was easily the most dominant player, Tuitele said. Several college coaches visited Purcell, but he said he was most impressed with UH assistant Rich Miano, a former pro football player.

Tuitele described Miano, an Italian American who was born in Boston and attended high school and college in Hawai'i, as an "honorary Samoan."

"I believe he is," Purcell said. "He's a good guy. He's easy to talk to. He made it an easy decision."