Leilehua senior Charles Moku Watson was the first player in Hawaii from the class of 2017 to commit to Oregon State during the first annual Polynesian Bowl on Saturday night at Aloha Stadium.
Kahuku’s Kesi Ah-Hoy, who originally committed to Hawaii, could soon be joining him.
Ah-Hoy has opened up his recruiting and is choosing between Hawaii and Oregon State after a home visit from the Beavers’ coaching staff made him reconsider his options. The Beavers originally recruited him as a running back before the season stated.
“The Oregon State coach came to my house and he just said that they’re recruiting me as a defensive player,” Ah-Hoy said. “That’s what opened up my recruiting.”
Ah-Hoy excelled during his first year playing defense full time for Kahuku. The senior primarily competed at safety this season and racked up first team all-state honors for the Red Raiders.
His previous seasons at Kahuku were spent in the backfield as a running back and quarterback. At UH, Ah-Hoy was recruited as a safety and linebacker.
Ah-Hoy has some family ties at OSU. His older sister, Camilla, was a star volleyball player for the Beavers. He said that his decision will depend on “whatever’s best for me and my family situation.”
For now, Ah-Hoy has narrowed it down to the Beavers and Rainbow Warriors, and will make the decision on signing day.
“Right now, it’s 50-50,” Ah-Hoy said. “I’m just talking it over with my parents and just praying about it. We’ll see come Feb. 1 on signing day.”
Coaches won’t be the only ones pleading him to come to Corvallis.
“I’ve been trying to get Kesi,” Watson said. “We’ll see at signing day what Kesi does. It’s going to be crazy.”
Watson originally committed to Washington State over the summer, but like Ah-Hoy, opened up his recruiting process. He whittled down a list of 10 offers to the Beavers and Brigham Young before choosing Oregon State.
“It’s beautiful. When I took my visit, it reminded me of Wahiawa,” Watson said. “A lot of trees, real cool temperature. They got great coaches, great facilities. It’s always been my dream to play for a Pac-12 school.”
Consider him gone. No one commits to a school, takes an official visit somewhere else, decommits, and then recommits to the original school.
Best Play Of The Day is going to Oregon and you’ll have more opportunities with the Beavers and even there after; Kesi, “think with your wit and not your heart,” Best Wishes and God Bless. RR4L/63er
no Tutu, the best thing for Kesi’s future is to stay home and play for UH., The positive name recognition you make by staying home and playing for UH will do wonders for your career. So many ex UH football players now working for HPD, firemen, stevedores, Halawa prison guard. Making the big kala, the big money. They got those jobs by playing for UH and making positive name recognition in the Hawaii community. Oregon St is culture shock for big city, bright lights Honolulu boyz. That’s why I think Oregon St recruits Kahuku hard
Mahatma Gandhi January 22, 2017 at 4:01 am
no Tutu, the best thing for Kesi’s future is to stay home and play for UH., The positive name recognition you make by staying home and playing for UH will do wonders for your career. So many ex UH football players now working for HPD, firemen, stevedores, Halawa prison guard. Making the big kala, the big money. They got those jobs by playing for UH and making positive name recognition in the Hawaii community. Oregon St is culture shock for big city, bright lights Honolulu boyz. That’s why I think Oregon St recruits Kahuku hard
Um, I think your mistaking Portland for Corvallis. Corvallis is as country as you can get and it actually will be a great fit for both Watson and Ah Hoy (Talking bout the area not the school) because it’s not big city and really nothing going on but oregon st sports in that area. As for “So many ex UH football players now working for HPD, firemen, stevedores, Halawa prison guard. Making the big kala, the big money. They got those jobs by playing for UH and making positive name recognition in the Hawaii community”. Thats a total pile of crap!!! Let the (local) boys go and make their own decisions, the mainland is bigger with alot of oppertunity and a great experiences waiting. Hawaii is not going anywhere, if it doesn’t work out in the states they can always come home. . . You make a bad recruiter if telling a kid he can work law enforcement or stevedores is your selling point to keep a kid home….that’s weak, sad and selfish IMO…..
Oregon St. Is a good fit for Kesi and any kid from Hawaii. Our kids will do well there, better than they do here. I agree with Alpha, Hawaii will always be here . Go be a Beaver !
OK Alpha, you tell me what has become of former Kahuku/Oregon St players Al Afalava, Suaesi Tuimaunei and Jeremy Perry. Where are the living now and where do they work? I bet they returned to the islands.
Mr.ah hoy just go follow your instinct.
@Ghandi
I’m with Alpha here. You really think that its worth staying in Hawaii to set yourself up for best case scenario that involves working for HPD or the stevedores??? Nothing against HPD or the stevedores but do you really think that is the best that these kids should be striving for??? I find it hard to believe that Hawaii has more opportunities than the mainland. We should be encouraging these kids to explore all their options and opportunities
@MahtmaGahndi idk wat came about them but if their back on the island then that would be ideal since this is home for them, like I said in my comment “if it doesn’t work out in the states they can always come home. . . ” but what your pretty much saying is if you put on your resume “Former Univ of Hawaii Football player” your pretty much getting in law enforcement or stevedores , which proves what alot of ppl say about Hawaii. “Its not what you know, it’s who you know”.
Al could also be influencing Kesi’s decision also since their mothers are sisters. (Mona and Theresa).
Hope he stays home, but he might follow in his uncle’s foot steps. Wishing him the best no matter where he ends up.
Stevadores make $90,000 to $110,000 per year with OT. What is wrong with that! Stay in Oregon and be a lumberjack or car salesman. Watson likes cool weather. Well he will like it more in December, January, and February with 10 degree weather with will chills. Hard to surf on Ice. No one remembers Most players who go away and come back after playing. People recognize players from UH on the street, get to know them, and would more likely hire them since they know they practice and play hard. Do you know what Fehoko or Jeremy Perry looks like? I know what Torres, Timoteo, Evaliko, and Santiago looks like.
Ah Hoy needs to do what he feels is best for him. Te’o, Mariota, Buckner, etc. etc. are all guys who followed their destinies which took them elsewhere. Hawai’i should be proud to have so much D1 talent that kids like Ah Hoy have options. I admire the kids who tell themselves they’re gonna do something different, leave the island life theyve known all their lives, and try something new in their life. Thats commendable. So is staying home. Its the players choice. People who get worked up over a 17/18 yr olds college choice have no fraggin life. Ah Hoy is a good kid, hard worker. Deserves to have peace in making his own decision where he wants to continue his education. You go, Kesi!!!!
@RSYmoney so that’s it, go UH and stay home so you can recognize them on the streets?(how selfish). Don’t ever leave because the surf is good and bang out OT at the stevedores just to make 100,00.00 a yr (that’s if you get in). Or work law enforcement where you make alil more then 50,00.00 a yr. Your ideal life may not be what these kids want, you can’t burn them for being curious to see what’s out their. We live in America and It would be nice to see some of these H.S football players move on to make a difference in our nation. Can’t do that being a hometown hero. Hawaii kids have just as much potential as mainland kids…. don’t limit these kids. . . Support no matter they go or stay…
Whatever he chooses just do it now so the other school can find the best replacement available. Why wait till signing day and place the out school in panic mode and it also affects the next athlete and the schools waiting for their decisions.
Doesn’t matter if he stays home or goes away, it will come down to what degree he gets and uses it for. A lot of cops or stevedore’s (uh alumni) either never got a degree or never used their degree in that specific field. Go with your HEART Kesi…..
Loca1boi, I don’t really think it’s the kids decision on where to go play college football. I think local parents put a lot of pressure on their kids to sign with the high-profile Pac-12 schools. just so they can feel proud. Just so they can brag to the community about how their boy plays Pac-12 football and will be on national TV the next weekend.
Coach_B, Curt Watanabe was the starting 3rd baseman during UH baseball glory days of the late 1970s when they finished 2nd in the College World Series. He now a chiropractor in Pearl City Ask him what staying home and playing for UH meant to growing his practice. .
@Ghandi
I don’t think you are getting my point. I’m not saying that connections in Hawaii aren’t helpful if they decide to come back. I just think that the opportunity to go to the mainland, for any local kid that gets a chance, is pretty hard to ignore. What happens if they stay home but realize ten years later that they don’t want to be in HPD or a stevedore? What happens if they realize they want to try work on the mainland? They’ll never get another chance to go somewhere on the mainland with all expenses covered for 4 years and make connections. If you are a local kid you will always have family connections to come back to, but not on the mainland
Mahatma Gandhi January 22, 2017 at 12:05 pm
Loca1boi, I don’t really think it’s the kids decision on where to go play college football. I think local parents put a lot of pressure on their kids to sign with the high-profile Pac-12 schools. just so they can feel proud. Just so they can brag to the community about how their boy plays Pac-12 football and will be on national TV the next weekend.
Coach_B, Curt Watanabe was the starting 3rd baseman during UH baseball glory days of the late 1970s when they finished 2nd in the College World Series. He now a chiropractor in Pearl City Ask him what staying home and playing for UH meant to growing his practice. .
It’s not your decision to make or your place to judge the decision these kids and their families make. You bring up Curt Watanabe? But does that go for the 40yrs worth of ball players that stayed and played for UH? Since you wana bring up one example from the 1970’s? Let me ask you (since you’re so hard up on local kids being successful if they stayed here) what’s the percentage of former ‘Local” UH football players making over $100,000.00 a yr here in Hawaii?
Young man, please travel to the mainland to play. Being away from home allows a kid to really mature. And having the opportunity to play and compete in the Pac-12 is unbelievable.
@ Mahatma Gandhi, I am sorry, but what job listed makes “big kala.” You list HPD, HFD, Stevedore, Halawa Prison Guard. Most of those jobs make between $45,000 – $135,000 annually. I am sorry, but that I consider that “big kala.” Now if you were talking about $350,000 – $500,000 or more then we are talking.
And he could get a better paying job going to Oregon State if he takes his academics seriously.
If your goal is only to make $90,000-$110,000, then your dreams and aspirations aren’t too lofty.
If it was me I would want a good education first and not set my priorities to be recognized on the street as a former player just by staying home. If these kids study hard opportunities will come. It’s amazing to me that to get a good job here is who you know, sad that they can’t get a job they want with the education they get. Face recognition please, this not high school.
Why wait til Feb. 1 to make your decision. In fairness to both schools make your decision now so both schools can move forward to make other offers and sign other athletes. No problemo. Just follow your heart where you want to go to study and play football for the next 4 or 5 years. Coaches will respect your decision and will appreciate you for giving them an early answer. Talk to your family now, not next weekend. You choose the Beavers, good luck. You choose the Warriors, good luck.
So sad and sorry to see this Gandhi Guru only lives a sheltered life like having reservations only to the bird nest on these islands?.
Hey I have an idea…. how about everyone shaaaddap and let him make up his own mind.
Would love to see him playing on Saturdays at Aloha Stadium. But I’ll be cheering for this young man no matter where he goes!!
[…] touchdowns as the quarterback in a run-heavy offense. The following year he played safety and after initially making a verbal commitment to the University of Hawaii opted instead for Oregon State, where he was moved to inside […]