Thousands of Hawai'i residents visit Las Vegas each year.

Hawai'i football fans would consider it a fair trade that one of Las Vegas' top high school players will spend at least four years in Manoa.

T.J. Alofipo, a linebacker who will be a senior at Silverado High School this season, yesterday accepted a football scholarship from the Warriors.

"Hawai'i is the best place for me," Alofipo said. "I didn't worry about anybody else."

Scout.com rates Alofipo as Nevada's No. 1 linebacker and the state's fourth-best player overall.

Although Alofipo is a strong-side linebacker, Brandon Huffman, a regional director for Scout.com, said: "I have him as a top-five middle linebacker on the West Coast. I have him as the top pure linebacker in Nevada."

Alofipo has drawn comparisons to Pisa Tinoisamoa, a former UH linebacker now with the St. Louis Rams.

"(Alofipo) plays well in space," Huffman said. "He moves well sideline to sideline. (Silverado has) the best defense in Nevada. They've got a big-time defensive end. (Alofipo) is really the anchor of that defense."

Alofipo, who is 6 feet 2 and 235 pounds, can run 40 yards in 4.7 seconds.

Silverado head football coach Andy Ostolaza said Alofipo can dunk a basketball.

"On a basketball court, he shows what a great all-around athlete he is," Ostolaza said.

Alofipo received scholarship offers from Arizona, Fresno State, Brigham Young, Colorado State and Nevada-Las Vegas.

"He sat down and talked to me about it," Ostolaza said. "I don't think there was any doubt about what he was going to do. It's easy. Two words: Tony Tuioti."

Tuioti was Silverado's defensive coordinator last season. Tuioti now is the Warriors' director of player personnel, a non-coaching job that coordinates academics and recruiting.

"Tony made T.J. into the player he is," Ostolaza said. "He put him in that position. He's almost a father figure to him. Losing Tony was harder than losing any player. He had a great impact with some of our kids."

Alofipo said of Tuioti: "He's a great coach. He's there for his players."

Alofipo, who was born in American Samoa, also said he wanted to return to the island lifestyle. He was 7 when he and his family moved to the Mainland. His parents recently moved to Utah, but he was allowed to live with an aunt and uncle for his senior year.

Silverado was 10-1 last season, its only loss coming to the state's top team in the playoffs.

"T.J. is going to be a good fit for Hawai'i," Ostolaza said. "With his size, he's going to project as a player they can put in different spots. There's a lot he can do when he gets fully grown. He has tremendous athleticism for a guy that size.

"You don't see kids with that kind of frame and that type of athleticism; the way he moves his hips," Ostolaza added. "He has a natural feel for the game. The way he can move, I think he's a great fit for a 4-3 defense that's aggressive."

Last season, Silverado led Nevada with 56 sacks. Alofipo had 11.5 sacks, a figure that should increase now that he is starting an intensive weight-training program.

"He's going to get a lot bigger," Ostolaza said. "He can be a 250-pound linebacker or a defensive end."

Alofipo is UH's fourth early commitment for the 2009 recruiting class. Earlier, the Warriors received commitments from wide receiver Billy Ray Stutzmann of Saint Louis School, defensive end Kimo Makaula of Punahou School, and quarterback Corey Nielsen of Gahr High School in California. Linebacker Waylon Lolotai, who signed with UH two years ago, returns from a church mission next year. He is expected to play for the Warriors in 2009.

PAY-PER-VIEW DISCOUNT

Today is the deadline for season-ticket buyers to be eligible for a 65 percent discount on the pay-per-view subscription for road football games. Those who buy season tickets by 4 p.m. today may buy the five-game television package for $99, a savings from the $280 usual price.

Tickets may be purchased at www.hawaiiathletics.com or at the Stan Sheriff Center Box Office. Call 944-2697 for details.

Visit Tsai's blog at http://warriorbeat.honadvblogs.com.