Liloa Nobriga and Joey Iosefa commit to the Warriors!

About committing to the Warriors, 6'3", 235-pound LB Liloa Nobriga (from Palo Verde High in Las Vegas) said:
"I like everything about the program. I like the coaches. I like the players. Everything is great." (HA)

HA Note: "Nobriga attended 'Iolani School, where he was a second-team Interscholastic League of Honolulu basketball player as a sophomore, before transferring to Palo Verde last year. Nobriga, who played intermediate football at 'Iolani, emerged as a top linebacker, amassing 121 tackles and 11 sacks in 13 games as a junior. He can run 40 yards in 4.7 seconds, and bench press 185 pounds 18 times.

About choosing UH, QB/DB Joey Iosefa (Faga'itua High in American Samoa) said:
"I have a lot of family down here, and it's closer to home." (HA)

"I like the (UH) coaches. I was impressed with all of them." (HA)

HA Note: "Iosefa is considered by some scouts as the best all-around high school athlete in American Samoa. He was named American Samoa's 2007 Offensive Player of the Year in Football. He also plays basketball, and is an outside hitter in volleyball and a striker in soccer."


About Iosefa, who lives in American Samoa's Eastern district, a rural area, family friend Moana Purcell said:
"He's from the country. The country kids are more well-rounded." (HA)

HA Note: "Iosefa, it is believed, is one of the first American Samoa high school players recruited as a quarterback. He said he has been told UH is looking at him as an "athlete," and it will be determined whether he plays quarterback, safety or another position when he participates in training camp next August. Iosefa is 6 feet 1 and 190 pounds, and he can run 40 yards in 4.6 seconds."

HA Note: "Moana Purcell, whose sons Melila Purcell III and Amani Purcell were UH defensive ends, said Iosefa comes from a good family life. The Purcells were helpful in steering Iosefa to UH. Iosefa also said he was impressed with the UH coaches who visited American Samoa the past summer. The UH coaches were featured instructors at free clinics as part of a goodwill tour. Faga'itua coach Suaese "Pooch" Taase, who played at Louisiana Tech, also was instrumental in guiding Iosefa. Taase has helped several American Samoa players prepare academically and athletically for NCAA schools."

Moana Purcell said that Iosefa's character is the:
"most admirable. (Iosefa) is very respectful kid. He's family-oriented. He's down-to-earth. He's a very good athlete. Just for them to offer and for him to accept is such an honor to his family. He will be the pride to American Samoa." (HA)