Posted on: Saturday, January 5, 2002

Football
Kahuku's Mapu earns second team All-America

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

MAPU: Will visit BYU, Tennessee and Hawai'i

Kahuku High School defensive end Jonathan Mapu has been named second-team All-America by Student Sports Inc., a national magazine and internet Web site based in Torrance, Calif.

Mapu, a 6-foot-4, 250-pound senior, also was named first-team All-West Region along with Kahuku senior quarterback Inoke Funaki, who was selected as an all-purpose player.

Mapu was named The Advertiser's State Defensive Player of the Year after helping lead the Red Raiders to their second straight state championship. Funaki was named State Co-Offensive Player of the Year along with Kahuku senior running back Mulivai Pula.

Pula was a finalist for the Dick Butkus Football Network Player of the Year award, which went to J.R. Zwierzynski of Joliet Catholic High in Illinois.

With Iolani's Donny Mateaki having verbally committed to Washington on Thursday, Mapu remains as the state's top prospect still undecided about his college destination. He is ranked No. 33 among the nation's best prospects by Rivals.com, third among strong side defensive ends. Mateaki was ranked sixth on the latter list and 70th overall.

Kahuku coach Siuaki Livai said Mapu visited Washington and is scheduled to visit Brigham Young next week, Tennessee on Jan. 18 and Hawai'i on Jan. 25.

Mapu was rumored to have given Washington a verbal commitment following his visit there last month, but Livai said that was a false report. The supposed commitment was reported by a Seattle newspaper and an internet recruiting service.

"His personality, he's the type of kid who will say yes to everybody," Livai said. "He has trouble saying 'no.' But he'll take his trips and then decide after that. Unless you hear it from Jonathan or myself, don't believe it."