Isaiah Collier may quickly get used to having rappers and Heisman Trophy winners sitting courtside at his video games, in faculty at USC subsequent season or within the NBA after that. But when he took the courtroom in his soon-to-be residence fitness center in L.A. again in January, the star-studded crowd was a little bit of a novelty. And a memorable one.
“We didn’t get the outcome we wanted, but it was a great experience,” Collier says after his Wheeler (GA) High squad fell to SoCal energy Sierra Canyon at USC’s Galen Center whereas 2 Chainz, Lil Dicky, Caleb Williams and different luminaries seemed on. “Seeing all those celebrities courtside, the attention leading up to the game, it was new to me, and it was definitely intense. But it was great.”
The crowd was drawn largely by a Sierra Canyon roster dotted with names like Hardaway, Pippen and James, after all, however the savvy followers within the constructing knew all about Collier, too. The 6-4, 205-pound lead guard is a consensus top-five participant within the 2023 class—and relying on which rating you test, you may simply discover him at No. 1. He didn’t have his greatest sport in L.A., however even on an off evening—he scored 17 within the loss—he confirmed loads of indicators of the talent set that made him arguably probably the most coveted prospect within the nation.
The Trojans secured Collier’s dedication final November, and likewise signed his Wheeler teammate, top-60 large man Arrinten Page. They’re now a squad that would problem for Pac-12 and nationwide honors subsequent spring. For Collier, the draw of L.A. was much less about brilliant lights and well-known followers than the prospect to be close to household and thrive in a system completely suited to his sport.
“I got a lot of family out there—my brother and uncle, a lot of my cousins, they’re really all in L.A.,” he says. “And definitely Coach [Andy] Enfield, the program they have, I want to help get them to a Final Four and play that style they ran back at Florida Gulf Coast. I still watch those ‘Dunk City’ March Madness highlights on YouTube—all the dunks.”
Collier is certainly the type of participant a coach can construct a championship contender round. Strong and savvy, he’s an athletic guard and nice passer who performs aggressive however underneath management. Asked to call position fashions for his sport, he gives the unlikely mixture of Chris Paul—“his high IQ, getting teammates involved, the way he uses the pick and roll”—and Ja Morant—“a little bit, not as athletic, but always attacking the rim.”
Collier gained’t name his sport “complete” simply but—particularly, he is aware of his soar shot remains to be a piece in progress—however he’s proven greater than sufficient on a number of the largest levels on the prep stage to justify the lofty rating and excessive expectations. It was his run final summer season that confirmed simply how good he’s and will nonetheless be. Coming off a knee harm, he snatched MVP honors at each Stephen Curry Camp and Under Armour Elite 24, then dominated on the EYBL circuit. He nonetheless has unfinished enterprise at Wheeler—a state championship was understandably on the high of his senior 12 months to-do record—however so far as particular person highschool résumés, Collier’s is stacked.
That résumé brings welcomed advantages—just like the coveted picture shoot, seen right here, he wrapped up a few days earlier than our name—in addition to consideration that would derail a participant missing his focus and household help system. But in both case, Collier is nice. “I’d say it’s a blessing, but I don’t really pay attention to all that,” he says. “It’s great to be recognized, and it’s also having a target on your back, getting everybody’s best game. But it doesn’t really impact me. I’ve got bigger goals in mind.”
Portraits by Matt Odom.
Source web site: www.slamonline.com
