Isaac Fotu – Home grown success

These days you will often see an empty spot in Isaac Fotu’s seat in his class rooms at Rangitoto College. If you want to see Isaac these days you either have to look somewhere in China or Italy or add him as a friend on Facebook.

Isaac has been named as one of the youngest Tall Blacks of all time and the 17 year old is currently in Europe preparing with the team for the up-coming Olympic Qualifying series against Australia in September.

Harbour Basketball Patron Penney said Fotu had done "a wonderful job" in his first senior assignment.

"He's very humble and just works very hard. He's got a very good basketball body on him and a very good jump shot on him. Other than that afro, he's going to be outstanding."

Isaac has made huge strides in his development over the last 18 month, leading the Harbour Basketball U19 Boys to back to back National runner-ups. Both times the team fell short against Wellington led by NBA prospect Steve Adams, but Isaac has shown that he is clearly up there as one of the hottest big man prospects in New Zealand.

He has also impressed the Breakers, winning the MVP title at a tournament in Melbourne in January, in fact he impressed so much that he got a development contract for the Breakers for the 2011/2012.

Harbour Heat and Breakers Academy Coach Judd Flavell says Fotu is an exciting prospect.

“Isaac has worked hard during his time in the Academy, especially off the court in the gym as he turns his frame from that of a kid into an athletic basketballer. His potential is enormous, he has great hands, balance and footwork around the basket but also the ability to knock the outside shot down. He is a great kid with a fantastic work ethic and attitude. He has similar attributes and skills to our current Breakers power forwards Mika Vukona and BJ.”

Isaac is eligible to play for the Harbour U21 team for the next two years and would be one of the corner stone of a potential Harbour Heat team in 2012.

Harbour Basketball Development Officer Alex Stojkovic thinks that Isaac’s success is no coincidence.

“Isaac’s success is a great example of the unique pathways available on the North Shore. We have one of the strongest representative programmes in the country and that combined with strong school programmes and the Breakers on our doorstep allows for this type of development. Isaac has had great coaching at Rangitoto College by Lawrence Lianda and that combined with the work he has been doing in the Breakers Academy as well as representing Harbour at several national tournaments gives him a huge advantage compared to other players from around the country when it comes to taking his game to the next level. It is very satisfying for us to see him progress like this and we look forward to watching him grow even further over the next couple of years.”