Posted on: Sunday, February 13, 2005

Top back from San Francisco UH-bound

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

JoPierre Davis, a top high school running back from San Francisco, told The Advertiser yesterday he will accept a football scholarship from the University of Hawai'i.

"This is the place for me," Davis said. "It's a good climate and a good atmosphere. The people are real cool."

As a Balboa High School senior, Davis rushed for 1,639 yards and 23 touchdowns. He had 10 runs of at least 50 yards.

He ran for 308 yards and four touchdowns in a 42-28 playoff victory over Washington High, and amassed 261 yards and six touchdowns against Galileo High.

Davis, who is 6 feet 1 and 200 pounds, was named the Academic Athletic Association's 2004 Player of the Year.

The San Francisco Chronicle named Davis as the San Francisco area's Player of the Year, and listed him in an elite group of players known as the "Fearsome Foursome."

Davis also is the San Francisco section's top returning high school sprinter. At the San Francisco finals last year, Davis ran 100 meters in 10.9 seconds, a time that the judges ruled was not enhanced by the wind.

He ran 40 yards in 4.4 seconds as a freshman and 4.5 seconds last year. "I put on a little muscle," he said.

Davis was recruited by Arizona State, Nevada-Las Vegas, Utah and Washington State. But they lost interest when it appeared Davis would finish short of a math credit. But Davis, who has an NCAA-qualifying grade-point average and SAT score, said he is attending night school to fulfill that math requirement.

"I will be a qualifier," he said.

After learning of Davis' situation, UH offered him a recruiting trip and scholarship.

"I'm going to be a Warrior," said Davis, who credited UH assistant coach Rich Miano. "He had a big impact on my decision."

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8051.