UH football team gets two verbal commitments
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
The University of Hawai'i football team has secured verbal commitments from offensive lineman Michael Lafaele of Farrington High and defensive back George Perry of Kahuku High.
Their styles will be familiar to UH football followers.
Farrington coach Randall Okimoto said Lafaele has the potential "to be another Vince" Manuwai, the Warriors' All-America right guard. Manuwai, who completed his NCAA eligibility last month, is a 1999 Farrington High graduate.
Louis Santiago, who coaches the defensive backs at Kahuku High, compares Perry to Hyrum Peters, UH's starting strong safety and a former Red Raider standout.
They are the first to verbally commit to the Warriors this year, and they may put their commitments in writing Feb. 5, the first day of the NCAA's national signing period.
Meanwhile, Saint Louis School athletic director Cal Lee yesterday squashed reports that Crusader wideout Jason Rivers had verbally committed to Washington State. Lee said Rivers took a recruiting trip there last week, but still has other visits scheduled, including to UH.
Lee said he does not expect Rivers to make a decision until completing all of his recruiting trips.
The addition of Rivers would boost a UH recruiting drive jump-started by Lafaele and Perry.
The 6-foot-1, 280-pound Lafaele, who played center, was named to The Advertiser's All-State first team.
"He's a typical Farrington guy," said Okimoto, a Farrington grad who was a running back at UH in the mid-1990s. "He's a hard worker, and very coachable. That's why he did so well this year."
During Farrington's only recorded weight-training period last summer, Lafaele bench pressed 350 pounds four times.
Okimoto said scouts have been impressed with Lafaele's build. "His lower half is big, and that's what they look for in offensive linemen," Okimoto said.
Lafaele, who also competes in wrestling, was also pursued by Alabama and Utah.
Kahuku coach Siuaki Livai said Perry has been the Red Raiders' best cornerback the last two seasons.
"He usually gets bored in practice," Livai said. "No challenge."
Perry, who is 5 feet 11 and 175 pounds, helped contain Rivers in the state championship game in 2001.
"He's a quiet guy, but he has a good attitude, and he's a good student," Santiago said.
Santiago said Perry can run 40 yards in 4.5 seconds, but "when he gets on the field, he is very quick. He has what they call 'football speed.' "
Perry was named to the Advertiser's All-State second team in 2001. Despite injuries last season, he received All-State honorable mention as a senior.
The multi-talented Perry also competes in baseball and track.
He received interest from Arizona State.
The Warriors have scheduled recruiting visits over the next three weekends. They already have reserved scholarships for Orlando Wong, a Kahuku High graduate who signed with UH in 2000 and then went on a church mission, and three players who previously committed to UH but will not enroll in school until August.
