Kahuku star lineman Perry picks Arizona over Hawai'i
By Leila Wai and Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writers
Kahuku High offensive lineman Jeremy Perry, the Advertiser's Offensive Player of the Year, said he will sign a letter of intent today to play for the University of Arizona.
Today is the first day NCAA Division I recruits can put their commitments in writing.
Two other athletes also made verbal commitments yesterday. They are:
PERRY
• Kahuku tight end Tevita Finau, who said he will accept a football scholarship to Oregon State;
• Kapolei All-State all-purpose player Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada, who will go to the U.S. Naval Academy.
Perry, who is 6 feet 3 and 290 pounds, picked Arizona over the University of Hawai'i.
"I wanted to get off the island and see something new," he said.
Last season, Arizona was 2-10 and 1-7 in the Pacific-10 Conference.
Perry said his decision came down to Arizona's coaching staff, which will be headed by first-time head coach Mike Stoops, a former assistant to his brother Bob at Oklahoma.
"He's new, too, so everyone's pretty much going to get a new start," Perry said.
Perry also mentioned the chance to play in the Pac-10, and the offer from Arizona offensive line coach Eric Wolford to start as a freshman.
"He said I had a good chance of starting, because the depth on the offensive line wasn't that deep," Perry said.
Perry, a member of Kahuku's 2003 state championship team, took his recruiting trip to Tucson Jan. 23 to 25.
"They had good facilities, weight room, the locker room, everything," he said.
Finau said he might switch positions at the collegiate level.
"They want me as a tight end, but they might try me at defensive end," he said.
Finau, who is 6 feet 5 and 224 pounds, said the last time he played defensive end was during his junior varsity seasons when he attended Lahainaluna. He transferred to Maui High for his junior year, when he played tight end. He transferred to Kahuku during the summer.
He said Oregon State was the only school to offer him a scholarship.
Kaheaku-Enhada chose the Navy over Air Force and Hawai'i, Kapolei coach Darren Hernandez said yesterday.
"He'll do fine up there, as far as being an option quarter(back)," Hernandez said. "What sold him was (Navy) had Ken Niumatalolo, Paul Johnson and Ivin Jasper."
Niumatalolo and Jasper played for Hawai'i and Johnson was an offensive coordinator for UH during Bob Wagner's tenure.
Kaheaku-Enhada, who is 6 feet 1 and 185 pounds, played quarterback and receiver last season.
Hernandez said that because Kaheaku-Enhada does not turn 18 until later in the year, he will attend the Academy's prep school for one year and still have four years of eligibility.
"He is the most talented football player I've ever coached and I've had two former players (who are) in the NFL, Clifford Russell (Washington Redskins) and Isaac White (Kansas City Chiefs)," Hernandez said. "He's right up there."
Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2457 and Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.
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