Mililani High School senior Micah Kia — regarded by many as Hawai'i's top college football prospect — made a verbal commitment yesterday to play for UCLA next season.

Kia, a 6-foot-5, 295-pound offensive tackle, turned down offers from Tennessee, Oklahoma, Oregon State and Hawai'i, among others. He said he narrowed his choices to UCLA and Tennessee, and he called coaches from both schools yesterday to announce his decision.

"It wasn't one thing; there were several different aspects," Kia said of his final decision. "They're both terrific football programs and schools with excellent facilities. It was just a matter of taking it down to some specific things."

Kia would not elaborate, but acknowledged he "enjoyed the people" at UCLA. He visited the Westwood campus last month, and Bruins head coach Karl Dorrell and linebackers coach Dino Babers — a former University of Hawai'i standout — both visited Kia's home twice in the past five weeks.

"Coach Babers is a real cool guy," Kia said.

Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer also visited Kia's home, and Kia took trips to Tennessee, Oklahoma and Oregon State.

Last night's commitment ends a bittersweet past six months for Kia, who suffered a fractured right tibia during a scrimmage in August and missed about half the season. The Trojans earned a top seed for the league playoffs, but were upset in the first round.

"The season was a flop from my aspect," Kia said, "but this is a good payoff."

The first day he can sign a national letter of intent is Feb. 8.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.