Posted at 11:35 a.m., Monday, January 14, 2002

Junior college football star signed by UH

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

One of the top running backs in junior college football has signed a letter of intent to play for the University of Hawai'i.

John West, a 1998 Leilehua High graduate who played for Yuba College in Marysville, Calif., the past two seasons, will begin attending classes at UH Thursday and participate in spring football practice in March.

The 5-foot-10, 190-pound West was named to the California All-America first team. There are two junior college football organizations —one in California and the other governing the rest of the country. There are 74 Community College League of California football teams. The California Community College Football Coaches Association chooses the all-star team.

West amassed 2,272 all-purpose yards last season. In 10 games, he rushed for 1,468 yards and 15 touchdowns, and averaged 32 yards per kickoff return. He scored on two kick returns.

West turned down scholarship offers from Indiana, Utah, Marshall and New Mexico. He also received inquiries from Michigan State.

"In my heart," he said, "I wanted to be a Warrior."

He said he is friends with former UH players Ashley Lelie and Craig Stutzmann, as well as UH return specialist Chad Owens. "They're cool guys," West said. "I know a lot of the players, and I wanted to be part of the new wave of Warriors."

West visited this past weekend, and signed this morning. Last month, he earned an associate degree, an NCAA eligibility requirement for a junior college transfer.

West can run 40 yards in 4.4 seconds, vertically jump 36 inches and bench press 350 pounds. He is projected to play either running back or slotback in UH's run-and-shoot offense.

"I'll do whatever they need me to do," he said.