Hotham, who made a sparkling test debut off the bench as an early replacement for the injured Cortez Ratima in San Diego on Saturday, spent three years in Dunedin in the Highlanders high performance programme.
He captained the Highlanders under-20 team and played for the Alhambra-Union club while studying applied science at the University of Otago, and shone for the New Zealand colts in 2022.
But with the great Aaron Smith, Folau Fakatava, James Arscott and Nathan Hastie all on the books at the Highlanders, he jumped at the opportunity to join the Crusaders in 2023.
Now he is All Black No1216 and seemingly on track for plenty of international action in the future.
The 21-year-old halfback had to be on his feet early against Fiji after Ratima suffered a head knock.
"It was a big surprise," Hotham told the New Zealand Herald after his test debut.
"I thought maybe I’d get 10-15 minutes, but then when, unfortunately, [Ratima] went down I just got up, eyes go up and be like, wow, it’s time.
"It’s amazing, a dream come true. I’m very proud of myself. I did it for my younger self.
"I’m very grateful to be here. I’ve just taken my opportunities with two hands and hopefully put my best foot forward."
Hotham told the Herald that performing the haka with the All Blacks for the first time was a surreal moment.
"I guess you sit down with your family when you’re younger, watching the boys do the haka, and then to actually be there doing it with boys beside you that you watched when you were younger . . ."
Hotham told the Rugby Pass website in 2022 that leaving the Highlanders setup was a tough call to make.
"I agonised over that decision for about three weeks. It’s properly the hardest call I’ve had to make in my life. I asked a lot of friends and family about it.
"The Highlanders did so much for me, and Aaron Smith and Folau Fakatava were good mentors, but with their All Blacks and a couple of good young halfbacks behind them, the competition was really tough."
Hotham became the 15th All Black out of Hamilton Boys’ High School, following in the footsteps of Ratima and wingers Sevu Reece and Emoni Narawa.
His father, Nigel Hotham, recently stood down after 21 years as Hamilton Boys’ coach, while sister Jazmin Felix-Hotham is in the Black Ferns Sevens and brother Legin Hotham, also a former Alhambra-Union player, represents New Zealand in touch.
