"It was a really difficult decision," he said. "There were negatives and positives about both places. I guess what it came down to was I really liked all the players and coaches I met at Hawai'i and I felt like it was a better fit for me overall."

Botez said he expects to sign and then fax his national letter of intent to UH later today.

Botez, who is 230 pounds, averaged 12.3 points and 8.4 rebounds per game as a sophomore at Chemeketa Community College (Ore.) last season. He was ranked among the top five centers in junior college by Van Coleman's FutureStars, and was a first team Southern Division selection in the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges — the same league that produced former UH starters Mark Campbell and Michael Kuebler.

Botez will have two seasons of eligibility at Hawai'i, and is expected to fill the void left by departing senior center Haim Shimonovich.

"I think he'll fit in fine," said Chemeketa head coach David Abderhalden said. "He runs the floor better than most big men, so that puts pressure on the opposing big men to keep up with him. And then he makes the biggest impact on defense because he’s a good shot blocker."