Gerry Blakes, a 6-foot-4, 175-pound guard at Morningside (Inglewood, Calif.) High School, has signed a national letter of intent to play with Hawaii and basketball coach Gib Arnold starting in the 2011-12 season.

Blakes is the second player signed by UH in the fall (early) signing period, following Serra (Calif.) High power forward Ronnie Stevens. Today was the last day recruits could sign with teams until the spring (late) period.

Blakes missed much of his junior season with an ankle injury, but came back as an energy player to help his previous school, Leuzinger High, to a CIF Southern Section Championship. He also had a breakout summer on the AAU circuit.

"We’re excited to have him," Arnold said. "He’s somewhat of a sleeper, I guess you could say. Missed almost the entire year, so not a lot of people know about him nationally. But there’s a pretty good buzz about him in the Los Angeles area."