Isaac Fotu

Isaac Fotu
No. 42 – La Bruixa d'Or Manresa
Position Power forward
League Liga ACB
Eurocup
Personal information
Born 18 December 1993
York, England
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)
Pro career 2011–present
Career history
2011–2012 New Zealand Breakers
2014–present CAI Zaragoza
2014–present →Manresa
Career highlights and awards
  • NBL champion (2012)
  • First-team All-Big West (2014)
  • Big West co-Freshman of the Year (2013)

Isaac Fotu (born 18 December 1993) is a New Zealand professional basketball player who currently plays for La Bruixa d'Or Manresa, on loan from CAI Zaragoza of the Liga ACB. He also represents the New Zealand national team in international competition.

Early life

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.[1] As a teenager, Fotu attended Rangitoto College and played club basketball for Harbour Basketball, 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.[2]

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.[2] On 11 November 2011, he played his first and only game for the Breakers as he managed the final 46 seconds of their 63-81 loss to the Wollongong Hawks.[3]

On 22 November 2011, Fotu signed a National Letter of Intent to play college basketball for the University of Hawaii.[4] 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.[5]

College career

In his freshman season 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.[6][7]

In his sophomore season in 2013–14, Fotu earned first-team All-Big West and second-team NABC All-District 9 honors, becoming just the 11th UH player ever to be named all-district. He also earned Academic All-Big West honors. On January 25, 2014, he scored a career high 30 points on 13-of-16 shooting in an overtime win at UC Irvine. In 31 games (all starts), he averaged 14.9 points and 6.1 rebounds in 30.8 minutes per game.[6][7]

On 29 October 2014, Fotu was ruled ineligible to play in 2014–15 after an NCAA investigation revealed he received improper benefits as a student-athlete. He was told he could continue practising with the team but could not participate in games.[8] He subsequently announced on 3 November that he was leaving the program to pursue a professional contract overseas.[9]

College statistics

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2012–13 Hawaii 32 18 25.1 .623 .000 .663 6.2 1.0 .2 .8 10.1
2013–14 Hawaii 31 31 30.8 .584 .125 .733 6.1 .7 .4 .8 14.9

Professional career

On 12 November 2014, Fotu signed a three-year deal with CAI Zaragoza of the Liga ACB.[10][11] Two weeks later, he was loaned to La Bruixa d'Or Manresa for the rest of the season.[12] He went on to make his debut for Manresa on 29 November against Joventut Badalona. In 12 minutes of action, he recorded two points and two rebounds in the 79-84 loss.[5][13] The following game, he made his first start for Manresa on 7 December. In 23 minutes of action, he recorded 16 points and 6 rebounds in the 62-66 loss to Iberostar Tenerife.[14]

International career

Fotu, at just 17-years-old, became the youngest player to represent the Tall Blacks when he made his international debut in August 2011 at the Stanković Cup in Guangzhou, China where he helped them win the tournament. The following month, he helped New Zealand win the inaugural FIBA 3x3 World Youth Championship in Italy.[15]

Fotu competed for the Tall Blacks at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain where he averaged 9.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in six games.[16]

Personal

Fotu is the son of Manu and Jenny Fotu,[5] both of whom reside in Torbay, Auckland. His father played professional rugby in England. He also has two younger brothers and two younger sisters.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Hinton, Marc (25 September 2011). "Tall Black Isaac Fotu shoots for the stars". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Hinton, Marc (4 July 2011). "NZ Breakers' development players named". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  3. ↑ "Player statistics for Isaac Fotu". FoxSportsPulse.com. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  4. ↑ "Men’s Basketball Signs Elite New Zealand Prospect". HawaiiAthletics.com. 22 November 2011. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Lacy, Mike (3 December 2014). "THE ISAAC FOTU STORY". LacyLowDown.com. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Isaac Fotu – 2013–2014 Men's Basketball". HawaiiAthletics.com. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Isaac Fotu Stats". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  8. ↑ DeMello, Rob (29 October 2014). "Fotu ineligible to play for UH, poaching attempts reported by players". Khon2.com. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  9. ↑ Dauster, Rob (5 November 2014). "Hawaii officially loses star player to professional basketball". NBCSports.com. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  10. ↑ Hinton, Marc (12 November 2014). "Tall Black Isaac Fotu signs for Spanish club". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  11. ↑ "Isaac Fotu to sign a three-year deal with CAI Zaragoza". Sportando.com. 11 November 2014. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  12. ↑ "CAI Zaragoza to loan Isaac Fotu to Basquet Manresa". Sportando.com. 25 November 2014. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
  13. ↑ "Regular Season Round 9: La Bruixa d'Or - FIATC Joventut 79-84". Eurobasket.com. Sports I.T. 29 November 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  14. ↑ Anderson, Niall (8 December 2014). "Fotu Impresses In First Start". NZhoops.co.nz. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  15. ↑ Chapman, Grant (27 November 2011). "Basketball: Young Fotu set for Hawaii life". NZHerald.co.nz. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  16. ↑ "2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup – Isaac Fotu". FIBA.com. Retrieved 12 November 2014.

External links