Former two-sport Punahou star transferring from USC to UH
STAR-ADVERTISER
Former Punahou quarterback Larry Tuileta is seeking to join the University of Hawaii
• Tuileta’s prep background; interview with former teammate (Premium content)
Larry “Tui” Tuileta, who was the state’s best high school football and volleyball player in 2013, is in the process of transferring to the University of Hawaii.
Tuileta requested — and secured — a release from USC this afternoon.
Tuileta has notified UH volleyball coach Charlie Wade and football coach Nick Rolovich, according to people familiar with the situation.
Tuileta was the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s Offensive Player of the Year as a Punahou School senior quarterback in 2013. He led the Buffanblu to an 11-0 record and the 2013 state championship.
Tuileta also excelled in volleyball as an outside hitter, helping the Buffanblu win three consecutive state titles. He was named Volleyball Magazine’s 2014 national Player of the Year.
Tuileta also is one of the most accomplished volleyball players in club-level history. His Ka Ulukoa Club won age-group national titles for the 12s, 13s, 14s, 15s, 16s and 17s. He was named national tournament’s most valuable player for the 15s, 16s and 17s.
60 responses to “Former two-sport Punahou star transferring from USC to UH”
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Go west young man where the grass is greener.
Wasn’t Tuileta originally a UH commit?
Meh. Felt that way when he de-committed from UH, same thing now.
Unforgiving. Too bad. I like to give people a chance. I hope he can contribute to UH sports teams and if so more power to him.
Should be as a walk on, no scholarship for de-committing.
Brand-name QB transfers who couldn’t win the job at that school were trademarks of the Chow era. This one in high school had the luxuries of a massive O-line and throwing to very talented, wide open receivers. We’ll see.
Yeah but the guy was really athletic. Maybe he is coming home to play volleyball not football? Like a lot of young players if he does play football he could be moved to safety or wide receiver. You can never get enough athletes.
Started 12 and played in 26 matches for USC, 3rd on the team in Kills. Small for VB, OH–6’2″ 205#. Athletic. For football he was a walk-on reserve QB. Could he convert to Safety or WR? Gotta think outside the box here.
WALK ON.
Verballed, but put on the USC hat at the signing ceremony.
traveling athletes…it is quite a scandal
If allie think that sports is a scandal, then why is she on the basketball team in Hawaii?
Looking at it as totally good news! Welcome home, Larry!
Absolutely agree. Welcome home Larry Tuileta.
I agree too, Aloha and Welcome Back !!!!!!!!!!!! May you have many ” Blessings ” !
Welcome back Larry. No hard feelings even though you left UH at the altar on letter of intent day. 🙂
Well, he escaped having to play under Chow. If he plays two sports for UH it’s a big plus, and I’m sure coach, Rolo has a good eye for talent and where UH can best utilize his fb talents.
Wasn’t the first player to decommit to UH, and he won’t be the last one–either.
He found out he was a little fish in a big pond not the little pond where he left as the big fish.
What are you talking about–he started as a freshmen at USC. Get a life…
Don’t want to sound negative but agree with you. Despite their NCAA football sanctions under former coach Pete Carroll USC football is still far big time with massive amounts of money to support their program compared to UH. Also academically USC is top tier while UH is third tier. Kids need to think beyond sports, especially if they don’t make it at the pro level and be more concerned with their education and a career. Better to grad from USC than UH.
I agree. I wouldn’t transfer from USC to UH for education. It must be he wants to try to obtain the big fish status and receive more playing time at UH than he might have received at USC.
He started as a freshmen, what are you even talking about….
Why is it always that some of you whiners just can’t be happy for the young man. Welcome home young man and best to you moving forward.
Right on! Great point. The fragile whiner fans get their egos bruised because he went away for school. If I had a choice–academically–I would consider USC over Hawaii because of their stronger academic programs.
Yeah it’s great that a good player returns home but because of the decommit he should be a walk on and then given a scholarship if he starts. Why waste it on someone who didn’t want to be here in the first place. Give to someone who does. Or maybe a volleyball scholarship is ok but don’t waste a football scholie.
He was smart enough to not commit to Chow. That’s good enough for me.
Yours is the best comment on this topic. He waited until Chow got the bum’s (tragically late) rush before signing with UH.
Here’s wishing the guy good luck in either or both of his chosen sports.
Men’s vb has a total of 4.5 scholarships spread among 20+ players. If he gets any money, it won’t be much. He also needs to work himself into a team that’s been together since the summer and has a wealth of OHs.
Because often there is way more to an SA story then just the positive spin they give it. Everyone knows USC is BIG TIME both in academics and athletics compared to UH. I don’t even want to write about Dobelle, Hinshaw, Greenwood, Frasier, BJ, Von Appen, Chow, Brian Minaai and UH construction projects, 1/2 BIILLION in need repairs for UH Manoa campus, Wonder blunder, Carbone and the bankrupt UH cancer center, etc. I am not being negative, just honest. I am not jealous or wish ill will on this kid, but many college athletes need to be honest about the realistic chances at playing at the pro level and if that is NOT in the cards, use that opporunity to get the best education possible and get their college degree. Getting accepted at USC either on academics or as an athlete is no easy feat so maybe focus on one sport only and put more time to getting an education and a degree from USC. That would open a lot of career doors BEYOND just playing sports at the college level.
I believe that if a kid stays home, he has a better chance of landing a job than one that has gone away. Name recognition is a big thing here in the islands. There a many many former UH athletes, local and from away that have done very well for themselves just based on the fact that they went to UH and many in this community recognize and adore. For myself, I would hire a UH grad/former athlete just because they stayed at home to play in front of friends and family. But that’s just me and I’m sure I’m not alone in that sentiment. Many of the educated don’t come back home to Hawaii, they stay where they are because of name recognition. I say more power to them.
I agree 100% and so does a former UH player who is still “well known” in the community. I spoke w/ him about a month ago and he mention a local player (no name was mentioned) who went away to a “big name school” and is now back home looking for a job. This player who went away asked this former UH player for help in finding a job. This former UH player and I both agreed has he stayed home to play his chances of find a job would have been much better.
That’s really worked out for Colt Brennan……
Found: “Tuileta was a first-year freshman reserve walk-on quarterback on the 2014 USC football team, but did not see any action …”.
Dunno if he played FB in 2015.
I think his chances of playing are better at UH than USC.
Wish him nothing but the best !!!
I think his chances in life were better had he gotten his degree from USC. Too much emphasis on sports and what you fans want and not what is necessarily best for the person.
Him coming back has nothing to do with what us fans want. Is lack of education hampering your thought process?
Try paying that USC student loan back while living in Hawaii. Not all of us work for the state.
How do you know he didn’t declare vb as primary sports and got scholarship that way?
Absolutely agree. Coulda rode out the vball scholarship for the usc education
If he had a full scholarship then why did he leave? Or if like UH 4.5 scholies for 20 players. Lets see, that comes out to .225 per player and say if the tuition is $50,000 a year that’s still a hefty amount.
A truly brilliant observation; he could’ve been another OJ at USC. Go condoms!
I wrote the same thing before reading yours and other posts about thinking about a kids future beyond playing sports at the college level. Agree 100%.
Competition at QB will be interesting.
Great news and another indication that local players are considering UH more favorably – a direct result of Chow no longer being the head coach.
Don’t know why Chow’s name keeps coming up I’m 99.9% sure that wasn’t the reason. Kennedy came to UH because of Chow? I don’t think so.
You mean “you don’t think”.
Has nothing to do with chow. His ass was hurting on the bench. Its hard to go from being the top dog, to being just another stray dog
Right on, intelligent comment. No need to think about that one!
Darn, you guys are SO stupid. He didn’t ride the bench because he wasn’t good enough, USC had no reason to rush him in. They already have Kessler, only a soph, with proven reserves behind him and gets Tui as a bonus without using a scholarship. Tui gets to come back home, compete for starting qb with less competition and without Chow. That’s a smart move.
Tulieta and Ulu Perry coming home. With Milton and Timoteo joining them. Wow. Go ‘Bows.
Good athlete. Got to be some place for him on the team…VB or FB. Still got to work his way on. Good luck and welcome home.
Another USC quarterback transfer? Looks what happened last year with all the hype! Reserve walk on quarterback at USC? Never took a snap in a game. UH would want him why?
Giving up an education at USC or any mainland college is a mistake.
Do you guys actual think before putting out garbage?
Especially “gyang”
Whoa, another FBS QB transfer. Right on Rolovich! Many locals seem lost that Chow is no longer around to bash. He was a terrible coach, but gave players such as Makani Kema-Kaleiwahea a chance to transfer home from UA and continue his education at UH. No drama with disrespecting UH, either.
Don’t forget krusha Goeas transferred home too.
Been hearing rumblings about Cal WR Kanawai Noa wanting to come home … anyone out there can verify that. Also being that Tuileta was a “preferred walkon” on the football team doesn’t that make him eligible this season ???
I’m impressed with the knowledge of sports. Imagine if you folks had the same amount of interest as planning for your retirement as well?
Anyone that exhibits commitment issues will always come with baggage and will never work out. Hopefully I am wrong on this one…
uh will still suck