On Monday, the Hawaii football team strengthened its pipeline with the nation’s top high school program.

KJ Hallums, an offensive lineman with Las Vegas’ Bishop Gorman High, said he has accepted a 2025 scholarship from the Rainbow Warriors. He said he notified UH coach Timmy Chang on Monday.

Hallums’ father is Kawika Hallums, a basketball and football analyst for Spectrum Sports the past 14 years. The elder Hallums also was captain of the UH basketball team in the late 1980s. After a basketball upset of BYU, the elder Hallums coined the “better than statehood” reaction.

“One of the reasons I committed to UH was I felt it was my own decision,” KJ said. “I feel going to UH is going to fulfill my own goals that I have.”

The elder Hallums said he told his son: “I’m so frickin’ happy. Not just because you’re going to be home and all that, but, man, this university did a lot for me, and continues to do a lot for me. It’ll do the same for you.”

KJ Hallums was a starting guard for Punahou School through his sophomore season. But seeking new experiences and competition, he enrolled at Bishop Gorman last June.

“It’s a different environment,” he said of joining a program widely recognized as the 2023 national champions. “I felt it only bettered my character. It’s been a good experience.”

Hallums, who is 6 feet 3 and 285 pounds, already has been invited to participate in the 2025 Polynesian Bowl. Hallums projects to compete at guard or center for the Warriors.

“When I was a little kid, I didn’t really watch that much football,” Hallums said. “The only football team I did watch was UH. I felt their energy resonated with me the most. It was kind of funny, but people used to ask me: ‘Who’s your favorite NFL team?’ I was like, ‘NFL team? I only watched UH.’”