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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, February 2, 2009

Warriors get 3 commitments

By Stephen Tsai
HawaiiWarriorBeat.com Editor

In a 1-2-3 combo on the final recruiting weekend before Wednesday's signing date, the Hawai'i football team secured commitments from:

  • Kapolei High cornerback Kalani Brackenridge, who also will play shortstop for the UH baseball team.

  • Thousand Oaks (Calif.) High running back John Lister, who rushed for 2,238 yards and 27 touchdowns in 2008.

  • Butte College (Calif.) defensive end Jonathan "Jon Bon" Watts, who amassed 10 sacks the past season.

    They all vowed to put their commitments in writing Wednesday, the first day recruits may sign NCAA national letters of intent.

    Brackenridge said he welcomed the opportunity to play two sports "in front of my family and friends."

    Brackenridge is 5 feet 11 and 165 pounds. Kapolei coach Darren Hernandez said Brackenridge can cover 40 yards in 4.5 seconds.

    Brackenridge is a member of an athletic family. His father, Lyle Brackenridge, was a baseball player in the Los Angeles Dodgers' and Minnesota Twins' organizations.

    His brother, Tyron Brackenridge, is a cornerback who recently signed with the New York Jets.

    "It's a blessing," Brackenridge said of the UH offer.

    Brackenridge was raised on the Mainland and lived for a period on Kaua'i before moving to O'ahu in the spring of his sophomore year.

    "He played baseball, and he was a star there," Hernandez said.

    As a junior, Brackenridge held Mililani's standout receiver, Taz Stevenson, to two catches for 23 yards.

    "This kid has really good cover skills," Hernandez said. "He's fast, and he can really jump. He has a 36-inch vertical. He has all of the measurables."

    Hernandez predicted that Brackenridge's "best football is ahead of him."

    Because football is considered to be the dominant financial sport, Brackenridge's scholarship will be in football even though he also will compete as a middle infielder.

    Brackenridge turned down football offers from Wyoming, Utah State and Idaho because those schools do not compete in baseball.

    Lister, once known as the "L-Train," also has a successful baseball background. He was a catcher on the 2004 Little League team that won the United States championship.

    "It was a great experience for a 12-year-old to be on (national) television" Lister said. "It was fun. I got a little taste of being part of a high-media sport."

    He saved his best hitting for football as a punishing fullback and linebacker. Last year, he rushed for 322 yards against Santa Barbara and 307 against Buena. He averaged 7.9 yards a carry. In all, he set seven school records.

    He was named the Marmonte League's Most Valuable Player and the All-Ventura County Offensive Player of the Year.

    Lister is 6 feet 1 1/2 and 210 pounds. He ran 40 yards in a laser-timed 4.49 seconds.

    "I loved it out there," said Lister, who turned down offers from Nevada and UNLV. "I love the coaches. They've got a good thing going there. They've got a good football team. They're going to win the WAC, and I want to be a part of it."

    Watts, who is 6-2 and 225 pounds, is capable of running 40 yards in 4.56 seconds and benching 360 pounds.

    He was raised in Gainesville, Fla. "I'm from the Swamp," he said, laughing.

    Watts said he moved to California at the invitation of a friend. He said Lametrius Davis, a UH cornerback and former Butte teammate, was influential in him choosing the Warriors.

    "I really like the program," he said. "The coaches are really nice. And I have a good friend out here. It's a good fit."

    Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.