Unger, Maiava headline Hawaii's best

http://www.starbulletin.com/sports/20081214_unger_maiava_headline_hawaiis_best.html

Oregon's Max Unger and Southern California's Kaluka Maiava are the offensive and defensive players of the year for the first Star-Bulletin Hawaii Grown college football all-star team.

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The 2004 Star-Bulletin defensive player of the year from Baldwin had more scholarship offers than he could count.

Knowing he could be a three- or four-year starter almost anywhere he went, Maiava chose the one place finding playing time would be the hardest.

"I chose USC because I wanted to compete with the best," Maiava said.

The 6-foot, 230-pound weakside linebacker waited three years behind Keith Rivers, selected ninth overall in last year's NFL Draft, before cracking the starting lineup this season as a senior.

He's third on the team with 62 tackles, part of a Trojans defense that allowed more than 10 points in just two of the team's 12 games.

"I could have had more tackles and more picks, but I ... have no regrets," Maiava said of his senior season.

"I feel like I played up to the standard set here and helped out our defense."

Maiava will head to the Rose Bowl again as USC makes its fourth straight trip to the New Year's Day game, facing Penn State this time.

From there, he'll begin his NFL Draft preparations by playing in the East-West Shrine Game, where he hopes to raise a few eyebrows.

"That gives me a front-row seat with the NFL guys looking at me," Maiava said. "Hopefully that slingshots me into playing on Sundays."

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Kaluka was considered one of the top LBers in the whole country coming out of HS. I think USC made a mistake keeping him from being a starter for so long, the kid has great talent and even greater desire. Just flies around, sort of like Polamulo as a LB. In my head I know he's too small for the 3-4, but in my heart I want him on the Jets. Has to be the best college LB no one talks about. Just plays hard and has talent.