Kamehameha senior Kaeo Batacan may measure at 5 feet 6 or an inch more, but his quickness and vision stand much taller than his height on a football field.
Batacan, a running back, received an academic and financial aid package and signed to play ball at Pacific University, where there’s a big welcome mat for Hawaii kids.
Next to the University of Hawaii at Manoa, the most well-known school to locals is Pacific, the Division III college in Forest Grove, Ore., where 20 percent of the study body is from Hawaii — the highest percentage at any mainland university.
Look at almost any Boxer team’s roster, and there’s at least one player from Hawaii. The lacrosse and rowing teams have no one from Hawaii, but football compensates with more than a dozen from the 50th state.
It’ll be a BIIF and Kamehameha reunion when Batacan gets there. Old teammates ready to welcome him with open arms are Paki Iaea (2015 graduate), Bubba Akiona (2015), Ina Teofilo (2014) and Kennon Quiocho (2013).
But for Batacan, there’s a bonus with being at Pacific.
“The Nike headquarters is in Oregon (15 minutes from Pacific), and I’d like to do an internship while I’m in college,” he said. “I’m going to major in business and would like to work there. I’ve been wearing Nikes since I was 10 years old. I’ve always liked the material and style.”
Batacan has a 3.5 grade-point average at Kamehameha and credits his parents, Ernest and Cathy, for shaping him.
“My mom taught me how to love and care for people,” he said. “My dad taught me to put my nose down and work hard because nothing comes free.”
There’s a level of comfort at Pacific with so many familiar faces, and it helps that the school is consistently ranked among the top universities in the West by U.S. News & World Review.
The Boxers (6-4) are coming off their third consecutive winning season.
Senior quarterback Warner Shaw (Kamehameha, 2012) finished his career as the most accurate passer in school history in his two years as a starter.
Shaw landed on the All-Northwest Conference second team. He also set the single-season record with 23 touchdown passes.
Eyes from afar
Batacan played in the 2nd annual Life Champion Senior Bowl, founded by Keala Pule, last December at Kamehameha’s Paiea Stadium.
He didn’t know it, but Boxer assistant P.J. Minaya, the Hawaii recruiter, was scouting the game on scoringlive.com.
“After the game, he texted me, and we’ve always been in touch,” Batacan said. “It was a good opportunity to showcase myself. He liked my quickness and vision.
“When I took my visit (in February), that made me more comfortable, and I felt at home. Another thing is at Pacific, they make you have a plan after college, and I have a plan. It was an easy choice.”
Nothing free, right?
It was easy to underestimate Batacan because of his size, until he stopped on a dime, changed direction and ran past a pack of defenders.
Batacan didn’t start until his junior BIIF season and was a backup when the season began. But once he made people miss and gained yards, Batacan never sat on the bench again.
Pacific’s two leading rushers, Bronson Barretto and Kamana Pimental, expired their eligibility as seniors. They’re both from ILH schools, Barretto from Kamehameha-Kapalama and Pimental from Saint Louis.
Both are also just 5-8, and Pacific’s spread offense works for undersized backs. Barretto rushed for 745 yards on 151 carries while Pimental added 514 yards on 112 attempts.
Someone has to pick up those yards, so why not Batacan, a first-team All-BIIF Division II pick as a junior and senior?
He will likely have some friendly competition. Batacan’s scheduled roommate is Kealakehe senior Riggs Kurashige, the Division I player of the year as a running back.
“I’m looking forward to the experience in college and college life,” Batacan said. “Hopefully, I get better as a football player and student in the classroom.
“You always hear talk about Division I, but Division III is a good opportunity, too. But you have to keep your mind on school, have a good GPA and test scores. You have to stay on that grind and never give up.”
