4-star to decommit from UCLA

CARSON, Calif. - Tevita Halalilo has been committed to UCLA since April but that pledge looks to be on life support.

The four-star offensive guard from Moreno Valley (Calif.) Rancho Verde said Sunday at the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl that he plans to inform the UCLA coaches soon of his de-commitment and that another Pac-12 school has emerged as the favorite.

"As of right now, (Arizona State) is my frontrunner," Halalilo said. "They're leading everybody right now because although I was committed to UCLA and I had cut off all connections with everybody they still kept in contact. They were always talking that if anything had happened I could always trust them and I can always go to them if anything happened.

"So pretty much that loyalty told me a lot and that's what I'm looking for in a team."

It does not sound like the 6-foot-4, 315-pound prospect will rush into another commitment though. Halalilo said he wants to take his time and even though he believes the Sun Devils are the best fit for him he's not going to make a pledge right after backing off UCLA.

"I'm not going to make my commitment for a little while," Halalilo said. "I want to make sure my next commitment is final because I really thought UCLA was my team so I don't want to mess up this time.

"It shows me how much (Arizona State) really wants me there and how much they could use me. As a player I want to go and have a fair chance of playing."

Halalilo is close to breaking off his UCLA commitment but he's not entirely cutting the Bruins out as National Signing Day gets closer. There are some issues to work through but the Rancho Verde standout said he's willing to listen more to the UCLA coaches.

"It's almost like a first love type of thing," Halalilo said. "My heart is with UCLA and it always has been but things right now aren't working out so good with them. I'd still be open to give them a chance to talk to me and prove me wrong.

"They have a lot of commits on the board and they have a lot of linemen on station that are going to be there next year so it's going to be really hard for me to get a spot to play early, not only my freshman year but my sophomore year and into my junior year. I also felt they were losing a lot of connection with me. They weren't talking to me as much, they weren't calling as much and connection is a big thing."