Signs point to Hawaii men’s basketball star Isaac Fotu leaving the embattled team to turn professional.
The all-conference forward’s future has been the subject of intense speculation since it was revealed Wednesday that Fotu is indefinitely ineligible to play in games as a consequence of the NCAA’s investigation of the UH program.
It is still unknown how many games the junior would have to miss as a result of pending allegations of impermissible benefits for a student-athlete. Fotu is apparently not waiting around to find out.
Sources told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that the 6-foot-8 forward is looking to join a pro team in the near future. His hometown club, the New Zealand Breakers, is said to be a strong candidate for his services.
Fotu has not responded to requests for comment since Wednesday’s revelations.
He has practiced once with the team since Gib Arnold’s firing on Tuesday, but has not been present at team events since Thursday. UH played Brigham Young-Hawaii on Saturday in a closed-door scrimmage.
Acting UH coach Benjy Taylor said Saturday he met with Fotu on Friday night but the subject of a pro career was not broached.
"We didn’t talk about that at all. We just talked about some other stuff," Taylor said.
After Friday’s practice, though, the team seemed to be bracing for his departure.
"You know, we’re just worried about the guys who showed up today," Taylor said after that practice. "But that being said, to a man, to a coach, to a player, Fotu is family. And whatever Fotu decides, we love him, and he’ll always be a part of this."
Swingman Negus Webster-Chan had similar sentiments Friday.
"Fotu’s situation, whatever he has to do, he has to do," Webster-Chan said. "We’re not mad at him …. That’s my brother. And the guys that are still here, we’re just going to make it work."
The fro-sporting Fotu was a fan favorite from the moment of his arrival in Manoa in 2012.
After Fotu’s first season at UH, in which he was named Co-Big West Freshman of the Year, the New Zealand Breakers offered Fotu a contract worth $100,000 a year for three years. Fotu turned it down. He went on to average 14.9 points and 6.1 rebounds per game as a sophomore, earning a spot on the All-Big West first team.
In his two-year career, he shot 60 percent from the field with a versatile array of mid-range jump shots, baby hooks, spin moves and deft footwork.
Back in April, Fotu was asked about the prospect of returning for his junior season if the result of the NCAA investigation was severe. The investigation began in March.
"I think it would have to be pretty major (repercussions) for me to reconsider and do something else," Fotu said then. "But as I said I think my decision right now is to stay and play for the university and get my degree."
Fotu excelled for the New Zealand national team in the FIBA World Cup in Spain in September. When he came back to UH for the fall semester, he missed a few weeks of court time with a back injury suffered in FIBA play. But he was effective upon his return to action over the past two weeks, showing off a fine-tuned 3-point shot.
On Friday, freshman forward Sammis Reyes became the first player to request a release from the team. He is expected to transfer out at the semester break.
