MARIANAS CONNECTION TO HAWAII FOOTBALL HAS GENERATED RECRUITING MOMENTUM
By Michael Cruz
There is a new group on the block for islandpreps.com. The group consists of football players out of the 671 (Guam) and 670 (Saipan) area code. Recruiters know about Hawaii (the flagship for the Pacific), America Samoa (Football Island), Australia (Punters), Tonga, Western Samoa, and New Zealand make up the rest of the Pacific.
However Guam has been playing high school football dating back to the 1967. Only Hawaii can claim to play football longer. Ironically, the late great Hal Shiroma grew up in Oahu and moved to Guam in the late 60’s. He was one of the pioneers of youth, high school, and adult league football. Now in its 6 th decade of football, Guam and Saipan is starting to blaze a new trail in recruiting.
Come fall 2016 Guam and Saipan will have a total of 11 players who are playing college football from non-scholarship to scholarship players.
Here is the lists as follows:
Savali Talalemotu-Portland State (discovered by Dirk Knudsen)
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/798243/highlights/8808379
Tyler Okiyama– Santa Rosa Junior College
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/4793843/highlights/217335390
LJ Aguon– Southwestern Junior College
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/5404957/highlights/306819557
Lewis Harris– Pima Junior College
Chance Horvath– Diablo Valley Junior College
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1271631
Matt Eaton- Pearl River Community College (verbal commitment to Iowa State 2017)
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1263410/highlights/336299118
Trip Chauret-Jacksonville University
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/4538177/highlights/285958510
Kini Makaneole-Lindenwood University
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/4583959/highlights/297847422
Shawn Hundley – Castleton State College
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/4322860/highlights/316123386
Quintin Iriarte– Ottawa University
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/5113852/highlights/313533299
Darrien Campos– Texas Tech or Angelo State
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/3245437/highlights/295034071
Guam sent a group last summer to the GPA Maximum exposure camp. About 11 attended and it was a valuable experience. Two (Trip Chauret and Quintin Iriarte) out of the 11 eventually signed to play college football.
This year brings seven athletes who will try to turn some heads at the 2016 camp.
Makoa Bamba-Guam High-WR/DE- Junior-6’3, 174– Bamba attended last year’s camp. He started on both sides of the ball at varsity for the Panthers.
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/6098384/highlights/574a2f420a6783141850caad
Juan King Jr-Guam High-APB- Senior-5’8, 165– King returns as one of the best all-purpose backs on island. He attended last year’s camp as well.
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/4538170/highlights/308592562
Solomon White-Guam High-ATH- Senior-5’10, 165– Showed some dual threat potential at QB last season. He can take it to the house and also plays on the defensive side.
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2871679/solomon-white
DeAundre Cruz-Father Duenas Memorial-RB- Junior-6’1, 195– With two seasons under his belt, Cruz is arguably the best high school prospect on the island. You would like to see him be more dominating on each carry. He will need to get bigger, faster, stronger, and more durable for the college game. He has received interest from Princeton and three other D3 programs.
Jean-Pierre Aflague-Father Duenas Memorial-DT- Senior-6’3, 325- ‘Feast Mode’ is the largest player in the league.
He also plays rugby. FD Coach Bruce Meno feels he can play somewhere and will depend on JPA to anchor the defensive line his senior season.
Leon Shimizu-Father Duenas Memorial-APB- Senior-5’8, 160– One of the best with the ball and has scored numerous TDs by rushing or receiving.
Marcus Manglona-JFK- RB/WR- Senior-6’1, 180– Good sized prospect who was used on both sides of the ball for Islanders last fall.