When Freddie Holly was offered a recruiting visit to Hawaii in January, the prolific high school running back was interested primarily in the trip itself.
By the time he flew back home to Riverside, Calif., he had a return to the islands in mind.
“This is a lot of hard work these coaches put in and this is building trust with families, identifying kids, being honest with them.”
—Nick Rolovich
UH football coach
Holly said he initially came over “just because I just wanted to take the trip — it was Hawaii and whatever.”
“But as I got down there I got to see the people and the environment and the different culture I really fell in love with it and really liked the atmosphere down there and the different opportunities,” Holly said in a phone interview. “So that’s when I pretty much decided they were one of my top two schools.”
Holly subsequently visited Colorado State, but committed to UH last week and is one of the prep prospects expected to sign and submit a National Letter of Intent today to join the Rainbow Warriors as part of head coach Nick Rolovich’s first recruiting class.
The UH coaching staff anticipates receiving 16 letters today — the first day high school seniors can sign binding commitments — to fill out the class that already includes former Saint Louis All-State offensive lineman Fred Ulu-Perry, who transferred from UCLA, and Zach Wilson, a cornerback from Upland High School and Mt. San Antonio College in California who submitted his letter of intent in early January. Both are already enrolled at UH.
The international dateline gave the Warriors a jump on signing day and UH also announced the commitment of Max Hendrie, a 6-foot-4, 235-pound athlete from Sydney on Tuesday.
Restricted from commenting on recruits until they’ve signed, Rolovich is scheduled to announce this year’s incoming class of newcomers at a press conference this afternoon.
“This is a lot of hard work these coaches put in and this is building trust with families, identifying kids, being honest with them,” Rolovich said.
Even on the eve of signing day, Rolovich said the UH coaches “continue to grind.”
“(Today) we gotta get it done and then we’ll feel good about it,” he said.
Seniors who have voiced and/or tweeted about commitments to UH include Kahuku safety Keala Santiago, the Star-Advertiser All-State Defensive Player of the Year. Mililani receiver Kalakaua Timoteo stayed firm on the commitment he made entering his senior season and Kamehameha receiver Kumoku Noa tweeted on Monday night that he would sign with UH. Both were first-team All-State selections as seniors.
“It’s a big relief, something I’ve always worked for,” said Timoteo, who plans to attend this morning’s Pacific Islands Athletic Alliance signing day ceremony at the Sheraton Waikiki. “This is just stuff you dream about when you’re a little kid. You hear about it growing up with everybody signing and it’s just surreal being that I’m going to be one of the people participating in this event.”
With UH coming off five consecutive losing seasons, Timoteo said he likes “the challenge and I like the pressure of the island wondering if we’re going to be good or not. I just want to turn it around and stay home.”
‘Iolani offensive lineman Joshua Hauani’o announced via Twitter last week that he would sign with UH, as did cornerback Mykal Tolliver of St. John Bosco (Calif.) High on Monday.
Holly ran for more than 6,000 yards and scored 73 touchdowns in a four-year varsity career at Norte Vista High School and originally committed to Arizona State. But he reopened his recruitment and UH was “one of the first schools to hit me up and let me know they were interested.”
Holly, a preseason Parade All-American and three-time All-CIF Southern Section pick, is rated 73rd nationally among running backs by ESPN’s recruiting database.
“Freddie has both speed and power, he’s an incredibly gifted runner,” Norte Vista coach Ken Batdorf said. “Statistically he’s phenomenal.”
After his trip to Hawaii, Holly said he wanted to keep his options open, and after going on another visit, he “came to the conclusion that Hawaii was the best place for me.”
“I know I made the right decision and I’m really excited about it,” he said. “Can’t wait to be in that Rainbow Warrior uniform.”
Holly said he bonded with the current UH players who served as hosts, including defensive backs Daniel Lewis, Jalen Rogers and Damien Packer, and Rolovich credited the players already on campus for their role in the recruiting process while preparing for next season.
“They put their head down and worked in the weight room, in school … and I want to commend them,” Rolovich said. “Them being patient with it is a testament to their character and what they want. They want to win and there’s a goal and there’s a mind-set with these kids and it’s growing.”
One of Rolovich’s early moves at UH was to bring Jason Cvercko with him from Nevada as director of recruiting and retention. Rolovich praised Cvercko’s efforts in coordinating the process, including the weekend recruiting visits he called “48 hours of madness and Aloha.”
“He’s an animal. He’s the most dangerous land mammal on this island right now,” Rolovich said. “He’s done a great job. We’re lucky to have him and we wouldn’t be where we are right now with this class without him.”
