Punahou School's Manti Te'o, widely regarded as the country's best linebacker prospect and probably the most heralded high school recruit Hawai'i has produced to date, signed a national letter of intent this morning with Notre Dame.

Te'o chose the Fighting Irish over Southern California and made the announcement at a ceremony at the Blaisdell Exhibition Hall's Pikake Room and before a nationally televised audience as ESPN broke into coverage to telecast his decision.

"I thought I made best decision for me and my family," he said. "It was a hard decision for us and I could picture myself at both of them. I just felt it was the place for me."

Te'o, who became the first Dick Butkus high school award winner, had narrowed his choices to USC, Notre Dame and UCLA.

Earlier, he had eliminated Brigham Young.

"I've been an SC fan, but I wanted to join a program that was building," Te'o said.

USC beat Penn State in impressive fashion in the Rose Bowl and has consistently finished in the top five over the past seasons. Notre Dame, meanwhile, has struggled this past season.

Te'o, a Mormon, said he would play his freshman year in college and then decide whether to go on a mission.

He called Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis a great man who's been "so supportive of my faith."

Te'o addressed the audience, parents and players before making his announcement. He thanked the media for "bringing attention to Hawai'i." He also had a message to the athletes, asking them to remember where they came from.

Later, he said, it's a "blessing for me to be among all these young men" signing his letter of intent.

Te'o also played running back for the Buffanblu, leading them to their first state football title in December.

Te'o was one of 48 Hawai'i athletes — including 29 NCAA Division I-bound football players — invited to the Blaisdell to put their commitments in writing to accept scholarship offers from colleges all over the country.

Te'o's signing was so highly anticipated, ESPN decided to cut into its live broadcasting on SportsCenter. CBSsports.com was expected to show a video clip at about 10 a.m., according to Doris Sullivan, who is helping to coordinate today's Signing Day Event.

HonoluluAdvertiser.com also streamed the signing day live.

Sullivan, director of the nonprofit scholarship-seeking service Pacific Islands Athletic Alliance, said about 40 news outlets have requested press credentials to attend today's event.

Irish Illustrated, a fan-generated Web site dedicated to Notre Dame athletics, hired a freelance photographer to shoot pictures of Te'o signing his letter.