Isaac Fotu, a forward from New Zealand, has signed a national letter of intent to play basketball at Hawaii starting in the 2012-13 season, UH coach Gib Arnold announced Tuesday.

The 6-foot-9 Fotu, of Rangitoto College (High) School, is believed to be the youngest player to qualify for the New Zealand national team at 17, and also the first of Tongan ancestry.

"Isaac is a huge addition to this year’s recruiting class," Arnold said in a release. "A skilled power forward with great natural ability and strength, Isaac has the potential to help us immediately."

The early signing period ended last week, but Fotu’s paperwork was apparently signed and mailed before the end of the period.

Fotu has played with the New Zealand Breakers development team and was competing for his country in the Boris Stankovic Cup in Guangzhou, China, in August.

Arnold got the chance to observe Fotu there prior to UH center Vander Joaquim’s game with the Angolan national team.

He will have four years of eligibility. He chose UH over Oregon, Utah, Saint Louis, UNLV, Washington and Washington State.

Other players signed for next season are center Caleb Dressler of Evergreen High in Washington and shooting guard Orel Lev of Israel.