California Golden Blogs has reported today that Punahou wide receiver Kanawai Noa has committed to play for the University of California.
Noa caught 58 passes for 1,113 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior. He also returned two punts and one kickoff for TDs. He was a Star-Advertiser All-State first-team selection as a junior. The 2014 All-State team will be published on Christmas Day.
Big time players make big plays in big games. Kanawai Noa got totally shut down in big games. 3 state championship football games he got shut down. First Kahuku shut him down, then Mililani 2 times in a row. Last yea in the state semifinals, jacob mcEnroe of Farrington shut him down.
Kanawai Noa in the state tournament:
11/16/12 vs. Mililani: 11 catches, 229 yards, TD
11/23/12 vs. Kahuku: 6 catches, 82 yards
11/15/13 vs. Farrington: 3 catches, 115 yards, TD
11/23/13 vs. Mililani: 3 catches, 51 yards, TD
11/15/14 vs. Kahuku: 9 catches, 89 yards
11/23/14 vs. Mililani: 5 catches, 61 yards, TD
Billy, didn’t 40 of those yards against Mililani this year come in Punahou’s last drive? Kanawai Noa had been shut down before that. I know Kanawai Noa tore up the ILH for 3 years. He put up tremendous numbers. But in the biggest of games, 3 straight state championship football games, he put up just average numbers. Kahuku’s Jayven Mohetau shut him down in the 2012 state championship game. Not many island WRs ever was offered by Div 1 mainland schools. Itula Mil, Micah Matsuzaki, Spencer Hafoka and Kaipo McGuire were recruited by BYU. Tafiti Uso by Stanford. I can’t think of any others. Jason Rivers of UH was offered by the Pac-10 but stayed home.
Haters,
To say Noa was shut down is short sighted. How many times a wr is thrown to accurately plays a part as well as having a safety help with double coverage. Noa is the states all time leading reciever even though he played in only 5 second half games this year and 2 were in the state tournament. I guess time will tell on his College carrer but as for his High aSchool carrer he was the best the State has ever had statistically.
Shut down or not. If he’s not suiting up for the Hawaii Warrior’s, who really cares? (Unless your his family or friends). I think the majority of Warrior fans would rather read about who’s staying home to rebuild OUR TEAM…because you know what? We really need it. A kid wants to go somewhere else and have another state’s fans cheer for them…go…no hard feelings and good luck.