Versatile Galeai making a name for himself at Kahuku

By stacy kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

Kahuku football player Jray Galeai gets the most out of his unique first name.

Instead of being named Ray Jr., after his father — one of the most superb athletes to come out of Kahuku — the "J" for junior was just tagged up front.

"He wanted to name me after him, but there's so many 'juniors' in the family, he didn't want to name me 'Junior,' " Galeai said of his father. "so he put 'J' initial and 'Ray' together to make Jray, so it's like Junior Ray."

But it's pronounced like Dr. Dre.

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"That's one thing I get out of everybody out here is that it's unique," Galeai said.

Much like his name, the Red Raiders are banking on getting the most out of Galeai by switching him from quarterback to safety this season.

"By moving Jray, it allows us to use his versatility," Kahuku coach Reggie Torres said. "He can play special teams. We can (still) use him on offense as a receiver. He just needs to get more reps on offense. Once he does, he'll be on that side of the ball more (often)."

By freeing him from quarterback, he becomes a multi-purpose player. Even on defense he is versatile, as he has been playing cornerback of late instead of free safety.

"That's because we have two good safeties in Aulola Tonga and Irwin Ah-Hoy," Torres said.

That's how deep talent runs in Kahuku, which is expected to challenge for the postseason again, despite a 35-0 shellacking from Kamehameha on Friday.

Galeai said he loves the switch of positions.

"I've always dreamed of playing defensive back," he said. "Funny, instead of getting hit, now I'm the one doing the hitting."

Galeai, listed at 6 feet and 177 pounds, is ranked third in www.Rivals.com's top 15 prospects in Hawai'i. (Tonga, who is 6-3 and 205, is ranked 10th.) Galeai already has offers from Brigham Young, Hawai'i and Oregon State. Michigan State has been inquiring of late, he added.