WAILUKU — Wehiwa Aloy hasn’t played high school baseball since his freshman year at Baldwin High School in 2019, but he knows where he will play in college.

Aloy, the son of former University of Hawaii and Baldwin state champion standout Jamie Aloy, verbally committed to accept a baseball scholarship to Sacramento State University last week.

The 6-foot-1, 180-pound shortstop chose the Hornets program over his father’s alma mater.

“It feels good,” Aloy said via phone last week. “For me and my family, it felt like Sac State was the right decision for me, the best fit as well.”

To follow in his father’s immense footsteps makes the 17-year-old Aloy smile.

“It’s a very big accomplishment knowing that I could follow in his footsteps,” he said. “It has always been my goal to and hopefully play at that highest level possible.”

It was not easy to turn down UH and new head coach Rich Hill.

“It was very hard,” Aloy said. “Growing up in Hawaii I always wanted to play for Hawaii, but I just felt like going to the Mainland was the best for me, the opportunities especially.”

Aloy, who plans to sign his national letter of intent on Wednesday, has seen the Sac State program up close.

“I’ve been up there, the coaches were very welcoming and the school is a very small school and I really liked it up there,” Aloy said. “I hope that my decision opens up some doors for these younger guys. Definitely not having two years of high school ball, it’s very tough.”

The Bears would have been loaded each of the last two seasons — the 2020 roster had 18 world champion youth players on it — but Aloy is just happy to have his senior season upcoming.

“I’m looking forward to it a lot,” Aloy said. “I haven’t played ball for my school in two years and it’s going to be very good, a very good season.”

Baldwin coach Craig Okita has coached Aloy on several youth all-star teams.

“It definitely is a great feeling for me personally, he’s come a long way,” Okita said before practice on Monday. “It’s his senior year and I know that he was concerned along with his dad Jamie with this COVID shutdown, but I’m glad to see that he’s got it done and after his senior year he will be moving on and playing Division I right out of high school.”

* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com.