Local talent fills UH recruiting class

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Shortly after June Jones was hired as the University of Hawai'i head football coach in January 1999, one of his assistant coaches, Dan Morrison, was introduced to a coach from the previous staff who was working in California.

Representative of UH's football recruiting class are Kahuku High's Quinn Ah You, Tu Tui, Viliami Nauahi and George Perry. "We didn't want to track them just because they're local, but because they're great kids and great players," assistant Dan Morrison said of UH's recruiting focus. Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

Morrison vowed that never again would a UH coach be unknown in the Hawai'i football community. That is why, he said, Jones' assistants "try to have a better rapport and relationship with (Hawai'i's) high school coaches. It's a way for the University of Hawai'i to bridge the gap."

Morrison said the UH coaches also promised to "make every effort to sign the top local players. Some may go away, and that's OK, because it might make sense for them, but we want to give them an opportunity to come here."

Yesterday, prospects from Jones' fifth recruiting drive began submitting written commitments. The latest recruiting class, like Jones' previous ones, had a noticeable Island feel.

Of the 21 prospects who signed letters of intent with UH yesterday, 10 are from Hawai'i high schools and six others have relatives or close friends living in the Islands or playing for the Warriors.

Only two Mississippi residents — slotback Lenny Boatner and punter Tim Wright — and offensive lineman DeJaun Gatling of Silverado High in Victorville, Calif., have no previous Hawai'i ties.

"The reality is, there's an awful lot of talent here," Morrison said. "We didn't want to track them just because they're local, but because they're great kids and great players."

Morrison also said the coaches were not worried about the Warriors being perceived as being "too local."

"The more local kids you have, the easier it is to have Mainland kids come here," Morrison said. "The local kids are so good at welcoming others."

During Jones' tenure, the Warriors have established a recruiting base in American Samoa, created a rebound strategy (in which Hawai'i high school graduates attend a junior college for two years and then transfer to UH) and opened the pipeline between the North Shore and Manoa.

The Warriors signed four players from Kahuku High yesterday, and two former Red Raiders said they will join UH as walk-ons.

Including safety Orlando Wong, one of five recruits who previously signed with UH but will count against this year's scholarship budget, there will be 11 former Red Raiders on the 2003 roster. In addition, former Kahuku quarterback Inoke Funaki is serving a two-year church mission and will join the Warriors in 2004.

UH safeties Leonard Peters and Hyrum Peters helped steer players from their alma mater. Kahuku coach Siuaki Livai also has been supportive.

"I always root for UH," Livai said. "When it comes to public school or private school, I root for the public school. When it comes to the world, I root for the United States. When it comes to the universe, I root for the human race. And when it comes to UH or a Mainland school, whose side do you think I'm on?"

UH also has managed to hold its own in the recruiting battles. This year, partially based on the theory that "last impressions are the best impressions," the Warriors bunched recruiting visits over the past three weekends. The strategy worked in the case of Kahuku's Viliami Nauahi, regarded as the state's best defensive back, who made a verbal commitment to Brigham Young in early January, then reneged and committed to UH last week. Nauahi signed with UH yesterday.

UH overcame persistent competition to land cornerback Ray Bass of Centennial High in California, center Hercules Satele of Long Beach (Calif.) Poly High, offensive lineman Larry Sauafea of Samoana High in American Samoa, and wide receiver Jason Rivers of Saint Louis School.

Still, the Warriors faced a tough challenge in the pursuit of defensive linemen. This year, Penn State, Tennessee, Washington, Washington State, Oregon, Southern California and Brigham Young made aggressive pitches for Hawai'i down linemen.

Penn State coach Joe Paterno made a rare long-distance recruiting trip to secure a commitment from defensive end Amani Purcell of Leone High in American Samoa. Purcell is the brother of UH defensive end Melila Purcell Jr.

Utah targeted Hawai'i prospects as part of its reorganized recruiting strategy.

In the end, the Warriors were granted most of their wishes from a list of linemen and defensive backs.

This class will mark the end of Jones' first five-year recruiting cycle. Every player on the coming season's roster entered under Jones' watch. (Defensive tackle Lui Fuga, a 1998 Waipahu High graduate, joined UH in 1999.)