HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – As the National Football League Draft begins this week, Hawaii native Tetairoa McMillan enters as one of the most electrifying prospects.
The Arizona wide receiver just completed a dazzling three-year run with the Wildcats that now has him on the cusp of being a first-round NFL draft pick
It’s all part of a story that starts in Waimanalo.
“Christmas time, he would spend his time here with us, but when the boy comes here he doesn’t wanna go home,” said McMillan’s grandmother, Blanche McMillan. “He goes, ‘Grandma, can I stay here and live with you?’ I said, ‘No, go back home.’ He loves here. I know his heart is full over here, but his education and sports is all there in the mainland.”
McMillan, who is one of six siblings, was born on Oahu and moved to Southern California as an infant, but the islands always remained home.
“This is his roots. This is where we are,” said McMillan’s sister, Lexus McMillan. “In the summer time, we spent probably like three months out of the summer here. Basically, this is where we grew up.”
McMillan’s athletic prowess emerged early in life.
His father, Ikaika, first spotted the potential when McMillan played baseball at 5 years old.
“Just the way he would get ground balls, catch balls, hit balls as a baseball player and I knew from then, that he was going to be a great athlete,” Ikaika McMillan said. “Then when came to football, it was like damn, he really is talented.”
It wasn’t long before the rest of the country would see that.
McMillan graduated from Anaheim’s Servite High School as a four-star recruit and needed only three seasons to become the Arizona’s all-time leader in receiving yards.
“He’s remained true to himself, humble kid, good kid. No get in trouble, but he doesn’t like the spotlight as well,” said his mother, Shawny Dutro.
McMillan can try to keep a low profile, but that’s not stopping the rise in popularity and national attention.
“It’s something he’s still trying to get used to, because he just wants to be a normal person when he goes around, and it’s hard now because everybody recognizes him,” said McMillan’s sister, Kiana. “They ask for pictures and autographs. Just something he’s got to get used to.”
Many draft experts have the 6′5″ wideout as the first receiver taken off the board. If he goes in the top 10, he’d be among the highest selections for a player of Native Hawaiian ancestry.
“I’m proud to have a grandson like him, very proud of him,” Blanche McMillan said. “I’m happy to be surrounded by his love. We are very proud of him.”
Round one of the NFL Draft begins Thursday.
Copyright 2025 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
