"I wanted to play in the Pac-10 and I wanted a chance to play in the Rose Bowl," said the 6-foot-1, 240-pound Alualu, younger brother of former St. Louis and University of Hawaii running back Tupu Alualu.

UH, New Mexico, UNLV, and Montana also showed interest in Ben Alualu.

"I went to the 1995 Rose Bowl and I decided then that I wanted to play in one," he said.

Alualu, an honors student at St. Louis, said he also was impressed with the Arizona academic program.

"My goal is to become a lawyer," he said.

The Wildcats, under former University of Hawaii head coach Dick Tomey, are also seeking to recruit all-state defensive player of the year Tony Tata of St. Louis and Kamehameha all-state offensive lineman Rockne Freitas.

"The Arizona coaching staff is real nice and so are the players," said Alualu, a key factor in a swarming St. Louis defense that won the school its 12th straight ILH and Oahu Prep Bowl titles last season.

Robby Takara, a 6-foot, 245-pound linebacker who earned Oahu Interscholastic Association Red Conference defensive player of the year honors last season, and Derek Zoller, a 6-1, 255-pound linebacker who graduated in 1996 and won the same distinction as a senior, are the fifth and sixth local players to commit to the Rainbows.

Previously committed were St. Louis slotback Craig Stutzmann, Kalaheo quarterback Shawn Withy-Allen, Radford lineman Chris Hogge and Damien lineman Chris Brown.

"I'm happy to get the scholarship offer," said Takara, "and I'm glad Derek is coming with me."

Takara was a second-team Star-Bulletin all-state pick last season and Zoller was a first-team all-state selection in '96.