[ RECRUITING ]
Kahuku’s Perry visits
UH on final recruiting
weekend
It's the football recruiting stretch run, and Hawaii is very much in the game for some highly regarded talent.
The state's most sought-after prospect joins a speedster from North Carolina among the players visiting Manoa and some of Oahu's finer eateries this weekend. Two quarterbacks are also in the mix.
Thursday is national letter of intent day, the first day players can make their commitments binding.
This is the final visit of three for offensive lineman Jeremy Perry (6-foot-3, 290 pounds) from state champion Kahuku (the other two were to Oregon and Arizona). But Red Raiders coach Siuaki Livai said that doesn't mean Perry has ruled out Michigan or other schools that haven't pulled back their scholarship offers even though Perry didn't visit.
"There's way more than just those three. He might end up with five or six different choices. A lot of schools said they want to send their (letter-of-intent) stuff," Livai said. "He might pick a school he hasn't visited. He hasn't made a choice yet. It's not even close until he comes back."
Livai also said it won't factor for Perry that Hawaii returns its entire offensive line, and only one of the five starters is a senior.
"This guy is good enough to come in and make his presence felt," Livai said. "Anywhere."
The same could be said for running back Andrew Pearman if the rest of his game is anything close to his reported speed in the 40 (4.3) and 100 meters (10.3)
Pearman (5-9, 162) is from Charlotte, N.C. He committed to Virginia, but drew back when the Cavaliers' running back coach left the program. The way his coach describes him, Pearman sounds like a good candidate for slotback in UH's run-and-shoot.
"On the field, we just try to do anything to get the ball in his hands," Providence High School coach Bruce Hardin said. "He lines up at running back, wideout, wing back, a number of different places so defenses cannot key on him."
Pearman rushed for 22 touchdowns on more than 1,600 yards as a junior.
Hawaii already has a quarterback committed in Taylor Humphrey of Orinda, Calif. But Tyler Graunke (Tucson, Ariz.) and Brandon Satcher (North Augusta, S.C.) complete visits today and might also join the class.
Graunke set the Arizona 5A passing yardage record last fall, and Satcher passed for 26 TDs and rushed for 11 more as a senior.
Also, Hawaii hopes Chaffey College receiver Greg Prator (6-2, 190) chooses UH after visiting Washington State this weekend.
The Warriors' latest commitment is Matt Kirschner, a 5-10, 175-pound all-purpose player who will get his first look at cornerback.
"We've had a good run with two (Delphic) league titles in a row, and Matt has had a lot to do with that," said Anthony Harris, his coach at Campbell Hall in North Hollywood, Calif. "This year he carried the load for us. He was offensive player of the year for the league. On defense he played corner and had five interceptions. Most teams would not run or throw to his side."