Proving there are no deadlines to talent searches, the University of Hawai'i football team yesterday received a commitment from a highly regarded junior-college cornerback.

Kenny Graham of Bakersfield (Calif.) College said he accepted a UH scholarship, and will join the Warriors this summer after receiving his associate degree.

Last week was the first day of the NCAA signing period, but the Warriors reserved four scholarships. The wait resulted in Graham, who received a 4-star rating from Scout.com. He is UH's second 4-star cornerback, following Blinn College's Ryan Mouton.

"This is a super pickup for Hawai'i," said Kevin Lustgarten, whose site, JCFootball.com, evaluates prospects for Scout.com.

At a preseason combine last year, Graham had a vertical jump of 39 inches, ran the short shuttle in 4.09 seconds and bench pressed 185 pounds 17 times, according to Lustgarten.

Graham, who is 6 feet and 197 pounds, said he can run 100 meters in 10.6 seconds.

Graham, who answers to the nickname "K.G.", rejected Baylor, Tulsa and Washington State.

"It's a great program," Graham said of the Warriors. "They're an up-and-coming team. I think they're going to compete for a BCS berth. They've got a Heisman Trophy candidate."

Graham said he has several hobbies, including competitive dominos. "It's really a mind game," he said. "If you can get your opponent to think a certain way, and you want to do something else, you've got the edge over him. The mental edge is what you need in the game. It's the same in football."

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.