One of American Samoa’s top high school football players told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser he has accepted a scholarship offer from the University of Hawaii.

“It feels like home,” Tafuna High linebacker Penei Stowers-Pavihi said of his intent to sign with the Rainbow Warriors on Feb. 1, the first day 2017 prospects may make binding written commitments.

Stowers-Pavihi, who is 6 feet 3 and 220 pounds, will turn down offers from Washington State and Oregon State. UH offensive lineman Eperone Moananu and former Rainbow Warrior Keith Ah Soon are Tafuna graduates. Stowers-Pavihi and UH linebacker Jeremiah Pritchard are childhood friends.

Defensive line coach Legi Suiaunoa, who visited American Samoa last week, was the point recruiter. Suiaunoa’s wife, Rose, and Stowers-Pavihi’s mother, Caroline, are long-time friends.

“Our families are really close because Samoa is such a small island,” Caroline said. “Before they moved, Rose was like a daughter to me. “

Caroline Stowers-Pavihi said Penei, the fourth of her five children, is “such a humble kid. He’s humble at home, at school, on the field. I don’t have any problems with him. If you tell him to do something, he’ll do it.”

She said she told each of her sons they were allowed to play only one organized sport and “spend the rest of the time concentrating on school.”

Penei Stowers-Pavihi, who also is an accomplished player in basketball and baseball, decided to focus on football. “I guess I fell in love with the sport,” he said.

Stowers-Pavihi was named a captain and his team’s most valuable player for defense every season since his freshman year. He also was named the defensive MVP for the 2016 championship game.

When Stowers-Pavihi was in the eighth grade, he made a deal with his father. He would be allowed to grow out his hair if he maintained good grades. Since then, he has earned all A’s and B’s. His unbraided hair reaches his waist.

“That’s why his hair is so long,” Caroline said. “His hair is like (former Pittsburgh Steeler Troy) Polamalu’s.”