Making Waves in Recruiting

Pepperdine hauls off with volleyball talent

Advertiser Staff

Sunday, August 24, 1997

Pepperdine is the clear winner in recruiting this year's best male volleyball graduates from Hawaii high schools. When classes start at Malibu, Calif. tomorrow there will be three all-state players from Hawaii enrolled -- each one a Volleyball Magazine Fab 50 selection. Scott Wong (Punahou) of Pearl City, 6-feet-6, was the Advertiser's Player of the Year last season. He was also first-team all-state in basketball.

Craig Gamble (Punahou) of Kahala, 6-feet-4, with Wong led Punahou to a 19-0 season and the state championship. They combined for 38 kills and 17 digs in the championship match.

Pono Kahale (Kamehameha) of Pearl City, was a two-time first-team Advertiser all-stater and member of the Olympic Youth National Team for two years.

All three are projected as outside hitters for the Waves.

"They're well-rounded athletes and well-rounded people, from good families," Pepperdine coach Marv Dunphy said.

Wong is the fourth player in Pepperdine history to receive a full scholarship, Dunphy said.

"Wong will start," Dunphy said. "He has so much volleyball in him already, you don't have to input it. And he has a frame to build on."

Does he compare to someone like Mike Lambert, Hawaii's 1996 Olympic team member? "He'll make a name for himself," Dunphy answered.

At Pepperdine, the three recruits join junior setter J.J. Riley (Punahou '94) of Round Top, who missed all last season after he tore an anterior cruciate ligament in a preseason tournament, junior outside hitter Jerome Kalama III, and assistant coach Mark Presho, former University of Hawaii standout (1990-93).

As for the rest of the all-state first team, Elijah Neverdon (University) has signed with Hawaii, Mike Wilton, son of the UH coach, is going to Brigham Young, and Justin Oleole (Pearl City) plans to attend Honolulu Community College and walk on later at UH.

UH also has signed Caleb Futui (McKinley), who was not chosen on the all-state team but who coach Wilton says "is as good as a lot of the all-state players."