Hawaii prep star Alika Ahu among top local MLB draft prospects

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The Major League Baseball draft begins this weekend, and a number of local prospects are hoping to have their names called.

Read more Man charged in Ala Moana Beach attempted murder investigation

Among those in the mix — Pac-5 star and Stanford commit Alika Ahu, an all-around talent that’s one of the top players in the state.

Ahu is coming off an excellent high school career that culminated with a trip to the Wolfpack’s first-ever Division I State Championship game in program history.

The reigning Gatorade Hawaii baseball player of the year and Hawaii High School Athletic Association Hall of Honor inductee is looking to be selected in the upcoming MLB draft.

“I want them to know I work hard and I have a good work ethic,” Ahu said. “I’m always gonna compete on the field and I’m a gamer. I have confidence in my abilities and the work that I put in outside of practice shows that.”

At 6-foot-4, Ahu was also a basketball standout.

“Being able to play multiple positions on the court kind of helped me be able to play multiple positions on the field,” Ahu said. “It was a lot of fun. Basketball was fun. It was a good kind of break from baseball that I guess I needed.”

Read more Evacuations lifted as wildfire heads away from Waikoloa Village

Athleticism that runs in the family. Ahu is the oldest of three brothers, who are also multi-sport athletes.

Their dad, Jaime, played shortstop for the University of Hawaii in the 1990s.

“He’s always been hard on me and my brothers because he’s believed in us,” Ahu said. “Him being hard on us has kind of kept us mentally strong. He’s instilled the work ethic and confidence part. It’s been good to have a role model we can look up to and follow.”

Ahu committed to Stanford before the start of his junior season — not a bad option should he choose college over turning pro.

“Super grateful, super proud, all those years at airports, dividing and conquering with three kids,” said Alika’s mother, Tiare Ahu. “We couldn’t always be together in the summer. There were some unique times where we could. … Just seeing that come to fruition like, wow, just so grateful.”

Read more Ala Wai Boat Harbor users challenge parking rules, towing, signage