Maiava nears end of waiting game

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NFL DRAFT

Saturday

10 a.m.-Rounds 1 and 2, ESPN

3 p.m.-Continuation of coverage, ESPN2

Sunday

4 a.m.-Rounds 3-7, ESPN

WAILUKU - Kaluka Maiava has one big priority for this weekend: A charged cell phone.

As the former Baldwin High School and University of Southern California linebacker moves closer and closer to becoming the first Mauian ever drafted into the NFL, he has been fielding several calls since he arrived home a week ago.

''I'm just hoping for the best, talking to a lot of teams,'' Maiava said Monday morning. ''They have been calling to see if my phone number is working for draft day. I tell them all, 'Yeah, it is going to be fully charged. I hope you are going to call it.' ''

Maiava is home, weightlifting with former Saint Louis School and Colorado standout Vaka Manupuna at the ''Dungeon'' - the tiny weight room underneath Old Wailuku Gym. Maiava is also rehabbing a strained hamstring he suffered running the second of two 40-yard dashes at USC's pro day on April 1.

He said that the muscle is ''about 95 percent,'' but he wishes he had that much of a read on exactly where he will land in the draft.

Once thought of as a long shot to get the call this weekend, he now appears to be a solid bet to hear his name, most likely early Sunday when the third through seventh rounds will be held.

Despite butchering his name, ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay said on the air over the weekend that ''Kaluka Moevao looks like a third- or fourth-rounder at this point.''

McShay was talking about all four USC linebackers - Rey Maualuga, Brian Cushing and Clay Matthews are the others - and when McShay said that Maualuga, Cushing and Matthews all have a chance to be first-round picks, Maiava should not be forgotten.

''I haven't really heard anything solid,'' Maiava said. ''Some guys tell me early rounds, some guys tell me late rounds. I'm just hoping for the best. I have heard as high as the second round, but I don't want to jinx it. You never know where you are going. Even the top guys go somewhere other than they think when they get picked up.''

Maiava said he will not be waiting by the phone on Saturday when the first two rounds take place. Instead, he will be playing in a charity golf event at Kaanapali.

''There are a few big names, local celebrities that will be in the golf tournament,'' Maiava said. ''I'm not going because of that. I'm not the celebrity. I'm just going to keep my mind off of things. Sunday, hopefully I'll be celebrating. I am just going to play it by ear. I will be on Maui, that is for sure - I'll probably be up in Iao (Valley).''

Maiava ran a 4.62-second 40 on his first try at the USC pro day, and coupled with his impressive numbers from the NFL Scouting Combine - including tying Cushing with a linebacker-best 30 repetitions in the 225-pound bench press - he is on the boards of several teams.

Maiava said that he has fielded calls from Atlanta, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Seattle and Miami recently.

He looks back at his USC experience - four Rose Bowls, included - and smiles.

''Oh yeah, I have been real fortunate to even attend USC and be a part of that group of linebackers,'' he said. ''We took a big group picture before I left. Those are some great names. People are going to hear about these guys for a long, long time in the NFL. Just to be a part of that has been a blessing.''

Maiava said the hamstring injury is nothing to sweat.

''The first 40 I ran a decent time, so on the second one, about three yards from the finish line, I tried to do that extra dig,'' he said. ''That is when it popped on me, but it is just a strain.''

Maiava's agent, Kenny Zuckerman of Los Angeles-based Priority Sports, has told his client that he will get that much-anticipated call. Zuckerman also represents Dominic Raiola, Olin Kreutz, Kurt Warner, Shaun Cody and University of Hawaii hopefuls David Veikune and Ryan Mouton.

''It is just exciting because I don't know where I will land,'' Maiava said. ''Getting drafted and having that kind of money, it is a life-changing thing coming soon. It is just a hurry-up-and-wait process right now.''

Maiava has been fielding questions from more than just reporters recently.

''It is just a lot more questions, everybody is asking questions,'' he said. ''I was in the weight room and a kid came up and asked me, 'What NFL team are you going to pick?' I told him, 'It doesn't work that way anymore. It is not college. They pick me.' ''

Maiava's signing with USC has opened a road to the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision ranks for several former Maui Interscholastic League standouts. As many as 13 former MIL players could be on top-rung college rosters in the fall.

Now, Maiava is ready to make history for Maui.

''That would be an honor to be the very first from Maui to be drafted,'' he said. ''That would be a pretty cool thing to be first in, but the draft hasn't come and I haven't been drafted yet. Until that happens, I'm not going to say anything.''

* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com