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

The 6-foot-7 Fotu, of Rangitoto College (High) School, is believed to be the youngest player to qualify for the New Zealand national team, and also the first of Tongan ancestry. 

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 witht he Angolan national team.

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

Other players signed for next season are Evergreen High (Wash.) center Caleb Dressler and Israeli shooting guard Orel Lev.