Prep lineman commits to UH
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
A highly regarded prep offensive lineman from California yesterday accepted a football scholarship from the University of Hawai'i.
"The environment, the school, the players — everything is a perfect match," said Laupepa Letuli, a 6-foot-4, 265-pound tackle from North Torrance High. "It's going to be good for me to go (to UH). It will be a new step for me, but I'm mentally prepared for that."
Letuli said the UH coaches granted his request of wearing jersey No. 50.
"I'm going to be Samoa 5-0," he said.
Oregon State, Utah and Boise State also offered football scholarships to Letuli, who completes his UH recruiting trip today. When he returns to California, "I'll let the other coaches know I'm done," Letuli said.
Letuli is the great-grandson of Samoa's head of state, who is known as Highness Malietoa Tanumasili II.
His grandfather was the former paramount chief of American Samoa.
His mother, Maile, is related to the Crabbe and Peliyo families in Hawai'i.
Larry Goeas, a former UH defensive lineman and sportscaster, said his nephew is a gifted and agile athlete.
"I've watched him develop since he was a little kid," Goeas said.
Goeas said Letuli, who was born in Samoa, is looking forward to the first time he will run through the tunnel leading from the locker room to the Aloha Stadium field.
"For a Polynesian player to come out of that tunnel and see all of those Polynesians (in the stands) is really something," Goeas said. "That was important to him."
Letuli was named to the California Interscholastic Federation's all-star team.
He was chosen by teammates as North Torrance's Offensive Player of the Year.
Letuli also is an accomplished musician who can play the guitar and drums.
"He'll fit in with the other linemen," Goeas said.
Earlier, UH received verbal commitments from linebacker Brashton Satele of Word of Life Academy, safety/receiver Kirk Alexander of Pasadena (Calif.) High and offensive lineman Adrian Thomas of Gymea Tech in Australia. Scholarships are reserved for former Kahuku High quarterback Inoke Funaki, who has returned from a church mission, and safety Chris Assily, a 2004 Kaiser High graduate.
NOTES
The Warriors yesterday received backpacks and large travel bags as part of the gift pack from the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl. In addition, stipends were distributed, with the players ($270) receiving a bigger payout than the coaches ($227).
Cornerback Abraham Elimimian today will miss his first UH practice because of non-injury reasons. He is participating in UH's graduation ceremony in the Stan Sheriff Center.
The wife of slotback Gerald Welch is expecting the couple's second child this week. The girl will be named Vanessa. "She said 'no' to Raquel," Welch said.
Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8051.
