Alama-Francis to walk on at UH

By Dennis Anderson
Advertiser Staff Writer

"I've always dreamed of playing at that level ... playing on the big stage," Alama-Francis said.

Alama-Francis, who is 6 feet 6, averaged 20.4 points and 8.2 rebounds per game last season and made 46 percent of his 3-point attempts for Kalaheo, which lost in the state championship game to Iolani.

UH did not offer him a scholarship, but playing for the Rainbow Warriors "has been my mind-set for a long time," Alama-Francis said. He didn't make a firm decision, however, until after receiving offers from Division I University of Portland and New Mexico, and Division II Hawai'i Pacific and Hawai'i-Hilo, Alama-Francis said.

UH coach Riley Wallace said that NCAA rules did not permit him to talk about a prospective walk-on until the player has enrolled in school.

Alama-Francis also said he would like to walk on to UH's national championship volleyball team as well, but that appears unlikely as men's college volleyball and basketball overlap for 60 percent of their seasons.

Meanwhile, Alama-Francis' two-time all-state teammate at Kalaheo, DC Daniels, said yesterday he will sign a scholarship agreement on Thursday with Kankakee Community College in Illinois.

"I want to get a little bit more experience playing at a JC, as opposed to being a reserve on a D-I team," said the 6-foot-3 Daniels.

Daniels is receiving a full scholarship from Kankakee. "They have a great record of moving kids on to the next level and they have an extremely good graduation rate," said Doris Sullivan, director of student services for Hawai'i Sports Network.

Daniels, the state Co-Player of the Year in 2001, averaged 18.7 points per game last season.

The third senior on the all-state basketball first team, Rashaun Broadus of Mililani, signed early with Western Washington but did not qualify academically and his scholarship was canceled.

Broadus reportedly is negotiating with a junior college in Nebraska.