No. 42 – Tecnyconta Zaragoza | |
---|---|
Position | Power forward |
League | Liga ACB |
Personal information | |
Born |
York, England |
18 December 1993
Nationality | New Zealand |
Listed height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
Listed weight | 230 lb (104 kg) |
Career information | |
High school |
Rangitoto College (Auckland, New Zealand) |
College | Hawaii (2012–2014) |
NBA draft | 2015 / Undrafted |
Playing career | 2011–present |
Career history | |
2011–2012 | New Zealand Breakers |
2014–present | Zaragoza |
2014–2015 | →Manresa |
Career highlights and awards | |
Isaac Fotu (born 18 December 1993) is a New Zealand professional basketball player for Tecnyconta Zaragoza of the Liga ACB. He also represents the New Zealand national team in international competition.
Born in York, England to a Tongan father and an English mother, Fotu and his family moved to New Zealand when he was seven and settled down in Auckland. As a teenager, Fotu attended Rangitoto College and played club basketball for the North Harbour Basketball Association, representing the club at U17, U19 and U21 levels. In June 2011, he was named to the all-star five of the Nike All-Asia Camp in China, an invitation-only tournament for some of the best young high school players throughout Asia and Oceania.
On 4 July 2011, Fotu signed with the New Zealand Breakers as a non-contracted development player for the 2011–12 NBL season. Being non-contracted still allowed him to pursue opportunities in the American college system without jeopardising his amateur status. On 11 November 2011, he played his first and only game for the Breakers, appearing the final 46 seconds of the team's 81–63 loss to the Wollongong Hawks.
On 22 November 2011, Fotu signed a National Letter of Intent to play college basketball for the University of Hawaii. After the University of Hawaii suggested that he might contravene NCAA rules if he played for a professional team, Fotu did not play again for the Breakers, nor did he play for the Harbour Heat during the 2012 New Zealand NBL season despite signing with the club.
As a freshman at Hawaii in 2012–13, Fotu earned Big West co-Freshman of the Year honors and in doing so, became just the second UH player to earn league freshman of the year honors. He also earned Freshman All-American honors from CollegeInsider.com. In 32 games (18 starts), he averaged 10.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 25.1 minutes per game.