Kahuku lineman Perry remains uncommitted

By Stacy Kaneshiro and Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writers

Kahuku senior Jeremy Perry, The Advertiser's All-State Offensive Player of the Year, brought letters of intent from Hawai'i, Arizona and Oregon State to a press conference, then signed the UH scholarship contract. Sherry Perry, below, added her signature to her son's letter. Photos by Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

"Jeremy is very unsure right now about the whole ordeal," Sherry Perry said of her son, The Advertiser's Offensive Player of the Year in 2003.

Jeremy Perry was not available for comment last night.

Tuesday afternoon, he said he would accept a scholarship to Arizona. But yesterday morning, he signed the UH letter.

Although Perry signed the letter at a campus press conference, Sherry Perry said her son did not fax a copy of the letter to UH. Until the school receives a copy, the letter is not binding and the school cannot comment on the recruit.

Yesterday was the first day recruits could sign letters of intent. At the Kahuku press conference, there were letters from three different schools set in front of Perry: Hawai'i, Arizona and Oregon State. He signed only the Hawai'i one, his mother said.

Sherry Perry was elated that her son signed the UH letter.

"I was very happy," she said. "Our family was rooting for him."

But people noticed that Perry did not seem happy at the press conference. Sherry Perry said Kahuku coach Siuaki Livai told Perry to think about his choice before doing anything.

"So we're letting him sleep on it," Sherry Perry said last night.

Sherry Perry said that she did not know how her son felt because he hardly discussed recruiting with his parents.

"He's just trying to please everybody," she said. "I want him to be happy. We're giving him our blessing no matter where he goes."

After returning from a recruiting trip to Arizona two weeks ago, Perry told family members he would sign with the Wildcats. He turned down a recruiting trip to Michigan State and had decided not to reschedule a visit to UH.

Perry finally agreed to an abbreviated UH visit last weekend, staying for 24 hours instead of the NCAA-allotted 48 hours.

After that visit, Sherry Perry recalled: "He said it was very hard. He asked me, 'Where do you want me to go?' I said, 'Wherever you want to go. It's your choice.' He said, 'I want you to tell me.' I said, 'If it was my choice, I would want you to stay here. We have the same opportunities here as any other school. Plus, you're my baby.' I would miss him a whole lot if he went away."

She said her son felt "pressured out," adding that Arizona coaches called "five times a day."

Meanwhile, 17 other recruits signed letters of intent with UH yesterday, including Providence Senior High (N.C.) running back Andrew Pearman, who can run 40 yards in 4.3 seconds; Mount San Antonio College (Calif.) defensive lineman Austin Jackson, who redshirted at Southern California as a freshman in 2001; Salpointe Catholic High (Ariz.) quarterback Tyler Graunke, who set the state's single-season passing record; and North Augusta (S.C.) High quarterback Brandon Satcher, the South Carolina football Player of the Year.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042 and Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8051.