|
Top Football Prospect Chooses Tennessee, LDS Mission
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE -- As the football recruiting season reaches the
first signing date, February 6th, another highly-touted LDS player
has announced his plans. Hawaii's Defensive Player of the Year,
Jonathan "JT" Mapu told the University of Tennessee that he will play
for the Vols next season before taking two years off to serve an LDS
mission. In making his announcement to the press, Mapu indicated that
his family had fasted and prayed with him over the decision.
Mapu, 6-foot-3, 265 pounds, is a defensive end from Kahuku High
School in Hawaii, where he lead his team to its second consecutive
state championship this year. Widely considered the best player in
the state, Mapu was also chosen a Parade All-American and was highly
recruited by and heavily considered Brigham Young, Washington and
Hawaii in addition to Tennessee.
Accompanied by his parents, Mapu visited Tennessee, a 12-hour flight
from Hawaii, on Jamuary 18th and 19th. On the 27th and 28th he told
the press he and his family fasted and prayed over his decision, and
on Tuesday, January 29th, he called Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer
with the news. "I was surprised how fast the news (of the verbal
commitment) traveled," said Mapu, at a press conference after school
on Tuesday. "Everyone knew about it very fast."
Mapu said Tennessee's distance from Hawaii made the decision more
difficult, "I knew I wanted to go to Tennessee," Mapu said, "but it
was tough on my family because it's so far away." He said he had been
interested in the school since he was a child, after seeing the Vols
play on television. Hish high school coach, Siuaki Livai, added,
"When we made the list of positives, Tennessee had the least. But
they had two big things. One was their program. It stands alone. Over
here, we call those programs like Tennessee, Nebraska and Miami the
big dogs. Two, Jonathan and his family were blown away by the
facilities."
Livai said that Mapu is a great player, "You ask anyone on the island
who the best player is, and his name will unanimously come up. He
dominated every year, from his sophomore year up until now. By his
senior year, they double and triple-teamed him." And he expects
exceptional performance from him, "Nothing less than first-round
draft pick, when he graduates, that is what is expected of him,"
Livai said. "Hopefully he'll break our (Kahuku) record: the highest
player from here picked was Chris Naeole who was 10th in the (1997)
draft."
Sources:
Mapu says he will play with Vols
Knoxville TN News-Sentinel 30Jan02 S2
By Mike Griffith: News-Sentinel sportswriter
Top prospect from Hawaii bound for UT
Nashville TN Tennesseean 30Jan02 S2
By Chris Low: Staff Writer
|
