Zach Bowers, the defensive leader of one of the nation’s top high school football programs, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser he has accepted a scholarship offer from the University of Hawaii football team.

Bowers, the starting middle linebacker for Chandler (Ariz.) High, said he made his decision after visiting Hawaii this past weekend.

“When I got there, I felt the family aspect of it,” Bowers said. “Everyone welcomed me with open arms. Talking with Coach (Mark) Banker and going over the defensive scheme, it felt like the perfect fit.”

Banker is UH’s assistant head coach and linebackers coach.

Chandler head coach Shaun Aguano said Bowers was “comfortable with the culture there and that family environment. He felt comfortable in committing.”

Bowers, who will be a senior this fall, may sign a letter of intent in December.

The past two seasons, Chandler followed Arizona 6-A state championships with victories in national bowl games. In December, Chandler beat Miami (Fla.) Northwestern, 55-20, in the GEICO Bowl Series. Each year, the top 20 high school teams qualify for a lottery in which four teams are selected to play in two bowls.

Aguano said Bowers has been instrumental in the Wolves’ success. Bowers started as an outside linebacker in 2016 and middle linebacker in 2017.

“He has in incredible IQ for football,” Aguano said. “He plays hard every down. He’s our leader in our defense this year. He has an incredible work ethic in the weight room. He’s just a great kid. UH is getting a great kid.”

Bowers has a 4.0 cumulative grade-point average. He also received offers from Syracuse, Nevada, Air Force, Army, Brown and Dartmouth.

Aguano is a 1988 Kapa‘a High graduate. He has coached at Chandler for 16 years, the past eight as head coach.