Running back Jonan Aina-Chaves, who made the All-State first team as a junior playing for St. Francis, will play his senior season at Campbell he said Monday.
Aina-Chaves — known to many as “Bubba” — rushed for 1,289 yards and 15 touchdowns for the Saints last season. But St. Francis closed its doors, leaving Aina-Chaves temporarily without a team.
“My boys in Ewa were all happy when I told them I was going to Campbell,” he said. “I’m registered and got all my paper work in.”
When reached by cellphone, Aina-Chaves said he had just gotten out of summer school and was heading to his first summer practice with the Sabers.
In his career so far, Aina-Chaves has rushed for 2,935 yards and 32 touchdowns and caught 47 passes for 693 yards and three TDs.
Soon after St. Francis announced it was closing, Aina-Chaves said he had thought about going to Saint Louis.
However, Aina-Chaves and some other St. Francis players were told by the ILH that they would not be allowed to transfer to another league school because they played in an offseason All-Star football game. Had it not been for their participation in the All-Star game, they would have been eligible to play for another ILH school.
In other moves around Oahu, according to various sources:
>> Junior wide receiver Zion Paro-Amina is transferring from St. Francis to Farrington, according to Govs coach Daniel Sanchez. With the Govs, he joins two other former Saints — offensive lineman Faaope Laloulu, who committed to Oregon over the weekend, and quarterback Jonah Aina-Chaves.
>> Running back Dayton Sam and linebacker Kamalu DeBlake, both juniors, are transferring from Saint Louis to Mililani. Both played for the Crusaders in their 38-17 win over the Trojans in the Open Division state championship game last year. Sam ran for 49 yards with two touchdowns in that game.
>> Senior wide receiver/defensive back Shepherd Kekahuna is planning to transfer from St. Francis to Roosevelt.
>> Senior offensive lineman Skylar Kalilikane-McMoore is planning to transfer from St. Francis to Pearl City.
Whoa this is like a high school free agency haha. Pretty fun stuff!
Wow. Are the Aina-Chavez related? If so, I guess they pick and chose. Note Kahuku too far. So year after year they the only D1 team with neighborhood talent. Rooted not Recruited.
Lol, only Kahuku in the OPEN division don’t recruit. Time to cancel the OPEN. Back to the old format.
Catholic HS nationwide is pushing all in on Football programs. St.Francis was a failed result because of this. Too bad because for decades it was a girls school that pushed out responsible women. So sad football before academics.
Love you bubz! Me and Uncle Blaise going always be praying for you that God keeps you safe and that you succeed and overcome the bad temptation to do good to everyone.
Stay on the vine! OTVB
It’s interesting how the ILH tries to control players. Kids playing in All-Star games is beneficial for the student athletes. It brings not bother to ILH! It makes no sense to create a rule! Seems like a powerful struggle. Make rules that will benefit or protect the athlete. Dont make rules that are sensless to stroke ILH ego. I feel for those kids. Sad rule that is non sense. These private schools need to leave the ILH and create a conf that is truly about the kids and provide them more opportunity than restrictions. Sad case!
Didn’t STL Ho’ohuli transfer to Mililani too?
Why did the St. Francis coaches let this happen??
It seems like the players were unaware of the rule.
Who’s responsible? Some of these kids still hunting for colleges.
So par for the course for all things sports related to Saints3x.
We not talking about kids, we talking about the adults.
ILH, not coaches or players fault. School went belly up. When it turned coed, and added boys sports, the cost went through the roof. The relocating/forcing of the retired nuns, then the firing of Sister Joan of Arc SOUSA (4 decades) spelled doom to academics. The GORMAN theory did not work for them. (Become CHAMPS and they will come)
DJ has all kinds of tools He needs to take the Sabers to the next level.
What a crazy situation for the St. Francis kids. This article opens up a lot of questions that the news people should look into. Biggest question for me is how can two brothers split up to two different schools so far apart? One brother is going to Farrington (which is the district where the family actually lives), but the other brother will attend Campbell. There needs to be an “official” reason for this, but I can’t see what it might be, especially because the family is already proving that Farrington is fine by sending one kid there.
How can Campbell be good for one brother to transfer to, but not the other? Last I checked, football is not a proper reason to transfer out of district, especially halfway across the island.
Does anyone want to enlighten us why ILH makes these non-sense rules? And can anyone explain the benefit for the child that ILH has a rule like that in place? ILH pulled the kids who got invited to the JPS couple years ago too. Whats the point of the rule and how does that benefit the child athlete? GOOD these kids went to a OIA school! Nobody there needing their ego stroked or a desire to have a power struggle games. Its all about the kids and for the kids. To all the kids thinking about going ILH, keep in mind all the kids in OIA who will participate in events that you will be restricted from. Anything out of school should be none of their business and should be the parents judgment call to make. Shame ILH! Replace ILH with JPS. Good job going to Campbell Bubs!
the ILH is just about money and stacking the cards in their favor. always, recruit recruit recruit. you see what happens when an ILH football team isn’t successful like St. Francis, right? they close down. that’s why ILH keeps recruiting and poaching players from our communities and its why ILH buys their state championships
The ILH can’t play in all star game rule has been in effect for a while.
Although, Tua Tagovailoa participated in the 2016 JPS All Star game and was allowed to play his Senior Season?
Does anyone have any clarification if the “Rule” was made before or after?
@Falcon Future. Say less because you know little of the 2 brothers. 1 is 18 the other one is 17. The 18 year old is an adult now he can pick and choose what school he wants to go on his own.
The only true ROOTED NOT RECRUITED school in the OPEN DIVISION is Waianae . Straight FActs.
Campbell will have so many weapons on both sides of the ball. They should be the favored team from the OIA in the Open Division. Mililani & Kahuku will also contend. However, the sleepers could be Farrington & Waianae. As for Aina-Chavez, he’ll get his reps, but returning all-star running back, Sky Lactaoen is going to be a player to watch. He’s a grinder, hardworker, intelligent, humble, and a silent leader. Don’t count him out. If DJ & Kawe can get the team to play at a high level every week, Campbell will be a force.
BUBBA IS GONNA BE 19 in feb. this is going to be his 5th year playing football. So good LUCK CAMPBELL 😂