Mililani High School (Hawaii) running back Vavae Malepeai isn't your typical three-star prospect.

The 6-foot-0, 190-pound playmaker helped his high school footbal team to a state championship, while rushing for 1,337 yards (6.0 yards per carry) and 24 touchdowns as a junior. But it's his off-the-field options that separate Hawaii's top class of 2016 skill position player from other three-star recruits.

Since a red-hot camp circuit, Malepeai has become one of the most heavily recruited running backs on the West Coast, registering scholarship offers from Cal, Colorado, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, UCLA, USC, Washington and others.

However, the Ducks appear to have separated themselves from the pack, as Malepeai indicated that he is considering a commitment during this weekend's unofficial visit to Oregon at The Opening regional camp in Eugene.

"I would say it's 50-50," he said.

If Malepeai were to commit, he would become the fourth family member to compete for Oregon football, joining three of his uncles who played in the 1990's and still have connections with the coaching staff.

"Coach Greatwood was (my uncle's) coach, so they knew I got offered before I did," he explained.

Malepeai's interest in a future in Eugene isn't based solely on a family connection. The running back is also intrigued by Hawaii's connection to Oregon.

"It's obviously a good education and a strong network of people that you get to be around," he said. "I think the pipeline from Hawaii to Oregon is strong as well. Those are big factors to me."

Like many young athletes in Hawaii, the recent success of Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Marcus Mariota has only increased Malepeai's interest in continuing to build upon that pipeline.

"Marcus is an inspiration, not only to me, but to all the athletes that live down here," he said. "He's a role model to all young athletes down here, all Polynesian kids."

If a commitment doesn't materialize, Malepeai said Oregon, Washington, Stanford, USC and Nebraska are just a few of the schools that will make his cut down to a top ten "sometime next week."

Of course, that list may not ever materialize if one the West's top running backs is blown away by his unofficial visit to Eugene this weekend.

-- Andrew Nemec

anemec@oregonian.com

@AndrewNemec