Saint Louis' Tagovailoa earns top honors at GPA camp


Saint Louis' Tua Tagovailoa goes through a quarterback drill on the second day of the GPA camp. He was named the camp's overall MVP on Sunday. Michael Lasquero | SL

MANOA — Saint Louis' Tua Tagovailoa earned the Gridiron Performance Academy (GPA) Football College Showcase's Overall Most Valuable Player on the final day of camp at the Clarence T.C. Ching Field & Athletic Complex at the University of Hawaii's lower campus on Sunday.

"You get to compete against the best in the state and the island. It's a blessing and there are no other words to explain it. It's an amazing experience and the past four or five years have been very humbling and helped with my growth and competing with everyone," said Tagovailoa.

Tagovailoa's teammate Isaac Slade-Matautia earned the Defensive MVP award and Kahuku's Vili Fisiiahi was named the Offensive MVP.

"Overall it's about getting better and learning from different coaches. It's about competition and if you want the rep, you have to get the rep. It's a great opportunity because the college coaches out here are giving their time to watch us," added Slade-Matautia.

Players participated in 7-on-7 drills and 1-on-1 drills to test their skills and knowledge as well as their play-making abilities.

"To be able to show coaches what we got and to compete with the best of the best. The whole time I was out here, I was being a sponge and soaking everything the college coaches have been teaching me," said Faamatau.

The camp concluded with battles between offensive linemen and defensive linemen, running backs and linebackers, receivers and defensive backs.

"There is a lot of competition and everyone was great and working hard, I was honored to get this award," said Uahinui.

The camp also awarded players by position. The Crusaders had a number of position MVPs.

WR MVPs: Ryan Ramones (Moanalua) and Ethan Takayama (Punahou)

QB MVPs: Taulia Tagovailoa (Kapolei) and Justin Uahinui (Farrington)

RB MVPs: Challen Faamatau (Farrington) and TJ Tautolo (Farrington)

OL MVPs: Mike Minihan (Saint Louis) and Arasi Mose (Saint Louis)

DL MVPs: Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa (Kapolei) and Tui Tuitele (Saint Louis)

LB MVPs: Jace Smalley (Saint Louis) and Seyddrick Lakalaka (Punahou)

DB MVPs: Isaiah Tufaga (Saint Louis) and Kaulana Makaula (Punahou)

Fastest Man Skills: Laakea Kahoohanohano-Davis (Baldwin)

Fastest Big Man Skills: Javen Towne (Waianae)

Fastest Big Man: Christian Mejia (Kailua)

Specialty MVP: Kekahi Haina (Saint Louis)



Reach Brandon Ching at [email protected].