South Korean basketball star Ha Seung-jin has signed a contract to play with the Portland Trail Blazers of the U.S. National Basketball Association (NBA).

Ha's agent John Kim said Monday that the 7-foot-3, 305-pound rookie had signed a deal to join the Trail Blazers and that he will probably play in the team's match with the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday.

The Trail Blazers also posted news of the contract with Ha on its official homepage (www.nba.com/blazers), saying that Ha was picked in the second round (46th pick overall) of the 2004 NBA Draft.

Ha had previously been playing with the Portland Reign of the American Basketball Association.

Ha, who is currently the tallest basketball player in South Korea, will become the first athlete from Korea to play in the NBA.