UH hosting eight from Hawaii this weekend
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
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Hawai'i high school football players will have a heavy presence at the University of Hawai'i this weekend.
Leilehua linebacker Robert Siavii, The Advertiser's Defensive Player of the Year, is among eight players who will make official recruiting visits to the Manoa campus.
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Siavii will be joined by teammate and fellow All-State linebacker Art Laurel (6-1, 210), Leilehua coach Nolan Tokuda confirmed.
"They would be excited to go there, play for the home fans, especially after the kind of season (UH) had," Tokuda said.
Joining the two linebackers, their high school coaches confirmed, are:
"The kid is tough," Look said of the Advertiser All-Division II All-State pick. "He has the toughness to play and the athletic ability."
"He's a hard-working individual and hard-nosed," Crusaders coach Delbert Tengan said.
"Choy had several 'pancake' blocks in the game against some outstanding competition and he was voted by the coaches as the West offensive lineman MVP," wrote Max Emfinger on his recruiting Web site (maxemfingerrecruiting.com).
"He's solid, strong, aggressive," Punahou coach Kale Ane said. "He played defensive tackle and nose guard for us. He has good instincts."
Meanwhile, Damien All-State running back Kama Bailey said yesterday he doesn't plan to make any more campus visits. He has been invited to walk on at UH, but said his decision will be between Idaho and Idaho State. He has visited both schools.
Also, contrary to a Salt Lake Tribune report, Kahuku offensive linemen Benji Kemoeatu and Anthony Si'ilata, and Tachibana have not verbally committed to Utah, Kahuku coach Reggie Torres said.
"They really liked their trip to Utah, but their options are still open," Torres said.
Kemoeatu, a two-time Advertiser All-State selection, is getting inquiries from West Virginia and Southern California, Torres said.
Si'ilata and linebacker Paipai Falemalu are scheduled to visit Oregon State this weekend. Falemalu and defensive back Shiloah Te'o are scheduled to visit UH next weekend, Torres said.
Kamehameha offensive lineman Daniel Kaanana will visit UNLV this weekend and UH next weekend, coach David Stant said. Also, lineman Isaiah Lavea visited Idaho last weekend.
Stant said arrangements were made so that some 1,200 schools of all levels, including from Canada, received video of his seniors who wish to continue their football careers.
Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.
