VIDEO: High school signing day

Yesterday morning, he stood over the shoulder of his eldest daughter, Jamie, as she signed a national letter of intent to play softball for Stanford University.

"I feel very proud and blessed that she will have this opportunity," Millwood said. "She deserves it because of all the hard work she put in ... The Hawai'i kids are getting more exposure than ever before, so we gotta take advantage of it. I know they can compete (in college) no matter what sport it is, so they just have to keep pursuing their goals and dreams."

Jamie Millwood and 15 other O'ahu high school senior athletes put their college commitments in writing during a ceremony at the Honolulu Design Center yesterday, the first day they were allowed to sign national letters of intent accepting scholarship offers. Punahou volleyball player Lauren Wood also was there to formally commit to the United States Military Academy, which does not participate in the NCAA's letter-of-intent program.

Millwood, a 2008 Advertiser All-State first baseman from Kamehameha, said Stanford is her "dream school."

"Ever since I was younger, I always wanted to go to Stanford," said Millwood, who carries a 3.7 grade point average and turned down offers from East Carolina and New Mexico State. "It's not a full ride (scholarship), but as long as I can go to Stanford, I'm happy. When I found out (about the offer), I was ecstatic, it was overwhelming. And all those feelings came back now that it's official."

East Carolina did land two Hawai'i softball players, Mililani second baseman Kristi Oshiro and catcher Rebecca Lee. Mililani shortstop Courtney Senas, the reigning Advertiser State Player of the Year, signed with Florida State.

Two Advertiser All-State selections from Campbell, pitcher Katie Manumä and utility player Gerika Pantohan, signed with Brigham Young and Hawai'i, respectively.

Five girls volleyball players put their pens to paper at yesterday's event: 'Iolani outside hitters Mahina Haina (Cal State Northridge) and Alissa Youart (Southern Utah), Punahou middle blocker Juliana Behrens (Cincinnati), Moanalua setter/outside hitter Carsen Mata (North Carolina State) and Kamehameha outside hitter Cara Rosehill (Delaware).

Haina's father, former Kamehameha and University of California football standout John Haina, said he attended college on a full athletic scholarship but appreciates it even more now as a parent.

"The percentages (of getting a full ride) were even less when I played, but just to get a scholarship is a big achievement, a big honor," Haina said. "(Mahina) worked hard for everything she accomplished, so I'm proud of her."

Mahina Haina said current and former Hawai'i athletes have built a good reputation for today's local prospects.

"We're so far from everybody else, but when I talked to the Mainland coaches they said they like Hawai'i players because they're hard workers," Haina said. "Even though we're going away, we're going to take Hawai'i with us."

Two baseball pitchers, Kamehameha's Harley Holt and Punahou's Kaiana Eldredge, signed with Cal State Northridge and Kansas, respectively.

Mid-Pacific girls basketball forward Keaton McFadden signed with Portland State, and Punahou golfer Bradley Shigezawa signed with Northwestern.

Three other girls volleyball players signed their letters of intent yesterday but did not attend the ceremony at Honolulu Design Center: Hawai'i Baptist's Sarah Palmer, an Advertiser All-State outside hitter, signed with Texas as a setter/libero; Radford outside hitter Kaeli Patton signed with Portland State; and St. Andrew's Priory middle blocker Ayesha Hein signed with Hofstra.

The first day football recruits can sign national letters of intent is Feb. 3.

Read his blog on high school sports at http://preptalk.honadvblogs.com