"I was talking to some friends over there and they reckon there is at least one seven footer in every high school team."
He said perhaps his best quality as a centre, which separated him from other big men on the court, was his physical strength.
"I am stronger than what my size is. I sort of like to rough [the opposition] up a bit."
The former Pikiao Rugby League Club player was selected for the New Zealand Storm team earlier this year, which is the equivalent of a New Zealand under-20 secondary school basketball side.
The team is currently raising funds to go on the trip next year.
Easthope started playing basketball three years ago at Rotorua Boys' High School after going through a growth spurt.
"I have always liked basketball and being tall people are like 'you should come and play in our basketball team'," he said.
"When I first started playing I was pretty useless but then I started putting more time into it and got better."
After finishing seventh form at Rotorua Boys' in 2012 he moved to Tauranga Boys' College to pursue basketball this year, re-doing his final year at high school.
He said his dream was to get scouted by a college team in the United States next year and have the chance of making the NBA in the future.
"I want to play to the best of my ability and possibly get selected for a college scholarship over in America," he said.
Easthope will trial for the New Zealand under-20 team next week.
He is one of 30 players in New Zealand invited to trial for the team.
If he is selected he will travel to Australia early next year to play.
To support Zac Easthope, who is currently raising money to go on the trip to Las Vegas next year, you can email him on: zeasthope@hotmail.com.
