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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, February 24, 2004

Signing on dotted line not easy for recruits

By Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer

When Kahuku High School senior lineman Jeremy Perry struggled with his college decision three weeks ago, Derrick Low and Wayne Hunter felt his pain.

While some in the sports community failed to comprehend why Perry could not make up his mind as national letter of intent day came and went, Low and Hunter sympathized with his situation.

"Life is about decisions, but sometimes it's very hard to make that decision," said Low, an Iolani senior who signed to play basketball for Washington State last November. "You can't make everybody happy."

Perry, regarded as Hawai'i's top football prospect, finally chose Oregon State on Feb. 11, a week after most other recruits signed their letters and a day after the University of Hawai'i rescinded its scholarship offer.

Hunter, a former standout football player at Radford and UH, signed with Cal-Berkeley out of high school but realized after a year at Cal that he would be happier back home.

"The biggest (factor) for me was my family, and for my family the decision was about academics," said Hunter, now an offensive lineman for the Seattle Seahawks. "My mom wanted me to go to Berkeley."

Hunter spent a year at Cal, then made his own decision to transfer to Hawai'i. He said that while such moves may not be common, almost every player struggles with his college choice.

"I think most of the guys have second thoughts," Hunter said. "You always ask yourself, 'What if?' That's why I don't blame (Perry). It's hard."

Low, the most heavily recruited high school basketball player to come out of Hawai'i, said he got a lot of unsolicited advice from people trying to sway his decision. But ultimately, he knew the decision was his to make.

"It's not about them, because they're not the ones who are gonna have to live with it," said Low, who chose Washington State over Hawai'i, Gonzaga and Utah. "To this day, I have no regrets. Of course my dad would have loved to watch me play at UH, but to him it's more important that I be happy where I'm at. It's gotta be the kid's decision."

Perry actually signed a letter of intent on Feb. 4 to play for UH, but he never faxed it in. He had struggled to decide between UH, Oregon State and Arizona in the days leading up to signing day, and was visibly confused even after signing the letter.

"My family wanted me to stay home at first," Perry said. "That's why I decided to sign with Hawai'i. But afterwards, I really wanted to go away."

Even the highest profile national recruits can struggle with signing day. Former University of Miami linebacker D.J. Williams was the nation's top recruit in 2000 out of De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) High School. He had media and coaches from the country's top programs on edge until the morning of signing day, when he chose ... nobody.

Williams shocked everyone by saying he simply had not made up his mind. So the frenzy carried on for another week, when he finally chose Miami over Southern Cal while eating breakfast with his friends at Burger King before school.

Like Williams and the others, Perry said he was relieved after finally making his choice.

"At first I was confused, frustrated," Perry said. "That's why I was telling my mom, 'Oh man, I wish I had only one (offer) so I had to go there.' But I'm grateful. Thank God."

Staff Writer Brandon Masuoka contributed to this report. Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2456.