Ronnie Stevens, a standout power forward at Serra High School in Gardena, Calif., gave his oral commitment yesterday to play basketball for Hawaii, starting in the 2011-12 season.

Stevens visited the islands the weekend of Oct. 15, when the Rainbow Warriors had their UH Ohana Hoopfest.

Stevens, who is 6-foot-9, 225 pounds, has a long-standing relationship with UH coach Gib Arnold.

"We’ve had many conversations. He’s watched me grow and seen how I’ve become," Stevens said. "Slowly, he said he knew what I was gonna become and he’d seen it over the summer."

Stevens is rated a top-15 player by some California prep websites. He averaged 12.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 4.9 blocks as a junior when Serra won the CIF Division III state title.

"He’s got great post moves. His footwork is great," Serra coach Dwan Hurt said. "He can shoot it up to 15, 17 feet, but his strongest asset is that he’s right-handed, but he goes left."

Salter out at least 2 weeks

UH junior point guard Anthony Salter has a tear in his left heel and will miss at least two weeks while his left foot is placed in a cast.

That would make a debut doubtful for the season opener against Montana State on Nov. 12.

"The Rainbow Classic’s probably out. Which would be three games, and that’s best case if he gets out of the cast and he’s responsive to rehab," Arnold said.