OIA may tighten school transfer rules

There has always been the "R" word — recruiting — in prep sports.

This time, it’s the "T" word: transferring.

Principals in the Oahu Interscholastic Association are examining a proposal that would require a one-year waiting period for any student-athlete transferring from one school to another.

Currently, any student-athlete plays a varsity sport, then transfers within the OIA is eligible to play in the following season. The proposal, if approved, would sit any such athlete, even if the reason is legitimate.

Moving residences is one of the more legit allowances provided by the rules and by-laws at this point. The OIA’s only requirement is that the student-athlete live within the district lines of his or her new school. (The HHSAA requires that the student-athlete and his or her family has officially vacated their previous property.)

It gets a bit tricky here. In the case of Kaiser football last season, the double-digit acceptance of transfers was deemed kosher by the school. All athletes proved that they had moved into the school district, although there were complaints — mostly informal — that some had never actually changed residences.

For what it’s worth, by the time the Cougars reached the state tournament, at least one player did not suit up. The player had transferred from a Maui Interscholastic League school, and though coach Rich Miano insists that his family had moved entirely to Oahu, apparently, the Cougars took no chances.

(Miano declined to be interviewed for this report.)

Moving "entirely" means this, among other things: If the family were homeowners, proof of the sale of the home to someone unrelated had to be shown. Vacating the previous residence in itself was not enough.

Now, if the OIA proposal kicks in — principals could vote in June before the annual athletic directors conference (HIADA) — all of those semantics will be moot.

"We’re not there yet," OIA executive director Raymond Fujino said, noting that the proposal may never get to the voting stage.

But on an issue as impacting as this — OIA Red champion Mililani has also accepted its share of transfers recently — there is no doubt that administrators have multiple reasons to think this out to the final letter.

"That’s what the principals are digesting. I really don’t have an opinion either way," said Fujino, who added that any voting result would be decided by majority.

"I think you’ve got to have exceptions instead of a blanket rule," former Kahuku coach Reggie Torres said. "When a family relocates because of a job change, or losing a house and moving in with other family, then you need to have red flags."

Torres understands the spirit of the OIA’s proposal.

"They want to regulate what’s happening now. Some people think it’s recruiting, but a lot of it is parents wanting to take their kids to another school," he said.

The proposal is just part of a chain of events within the food chain of interscholastic athletics, and it starts with the biggest, most competitive machine in the state: the ILH. The pipeline of athletes going from public schools to private schools is never-ending.

Torres’ oldest son, Reggie Jr., played for Kamehameha’s state football championship team in 2005. A daughter, Elizabeth, went to Kamehameha, then returned to Kahuku.

"A private school offers what a public school cannot. I’m a Red Raider, but truth be told, if they want to go, more power to them. Often, the kids don’t want to go, but the parents want them to go," Torres said.

ILH IS WHERE IT’S AT

Punahou, which has been the most successful at landing talent, could have four starters from the North Shore on its football team this fall.

"We have pretty good public schools, but we can’t compete with private schools. Our program had success, but we still lose kids to Punahou," Torres said.

There has always been an influx of neighbor-island talent to Oahu schools. Saint Louis’ promising wide receiver, Drew Kobayashi, grew up on the Big Island, but began to attend Saint Louis in middle school. The entire family relocated, making a big sacrifice for his future.

Kobayashi’s father, Lance, was a standout quarterback at Konawaena in the 1980s.

"Nothing against the BIIF, but for Drew to have any serious consideration as an athlete, we wanted him to play in the best league," he said. "Otherwise, it would be an asterisk to college recruiters."

The family exited its comfort zone and moved to Oahu, where Drew enrolled at Saint Louis as an eighth-grader. He became a contributor as a wide receiver last season as a sophomore, and has drawn attention in recent trips to the mainland. He was one of the top-rated athletes at the SoCal Nike SPARQ Combine two weeks ago. This past weekend, he participated in the Pylon 7-on-7 Tournament in Las Vegas, catching passes from a Bishop Gorman quarterback.

Lance Kobayashi said making a change before high school is key.

"When you’re transferring from OIA to OIA in the middle of high school, you’re chasing an OIA championship. Playing in Hawaii is always a disadvantage, so you have to get your kids up to the mainland for camps and combines, to get them in front of (college) scouts," he said.

Having his son repeat eighth grade at a new school was painful, but rewarding. Drew’s grade-point average increased (from 2.5 to 3.2) and he got a chance to start developing physically before his eligibility began.

"Mainland parents hold kids back all the time. They’re using the system to their advantage," Lance said.

EXPOSURE COUNTS

Offseason mainland exposure has helped many local football players, as well as baseball, volleyball, softball and girls basketball athletes. For Kobayashi, it has meant much more interest from D-I colleges.

"That’s how you get rated. They want to see you in person," Lance Kobayashi said.

Still, there will probably always be a core of athletes who simply prefer the culture and pace of a public school. Rex Manu, Mililani’s all-state defensive tackle, began his prep career at Punahou before leaving in the spring of his freshman year.

"I just wanted to get out of there. The kids and teachers were cool, but everybody else was hi-makamaka," said Manu, who had a financial-aid package that covered roughly two-thirds of his tuition. "We still paid $500 a month. That was hard."

Manu’s residence is in Waianae, but he decided to follow older brother Veni’s path and applied for a G.E. (general exception) to attend Mililani. He was accepted, but had to sit out one year of football.

"It was the best choice for me. We knew Coach Rod (York) and the staff," Manu said.

Mililani is another school that drew many transfer requests from football players. (York was not available for comment.)

"The education here is good and the teachers are super helpful. They’re down to earth," said Manu, who was on his way to an SAT prep class on Monday morning.

"Sitting out (one year) sucked, but I practiced every day with the team. The kids here know it’s the real deal. Most of the people I know plan on going to the next level," he said.

The junior has a 3.8 cumulative grade-point average. He has college offers from Hawaii, Colorado and Stanford. As for the possible new rule that would force transferring students to sit a year?

"Oh man, that’s not cool. If it’s a G.E., that’s understandable, but they should make exceptions if a parent gets a new job or if they have to move," Manu said. "They should not be punishing the kids.

"I’d vote against it."