Isaac considered to have high ceiling
TALLAHASSEE — As one of the nation’s top high school basketball players before enrolling at Florida State, Jonathan Isaac earned comparisons to Kevin Durant for his ability to handle the basketball and create his own offense while being a stout defender despite a slender frame.
It’s an appraisal Isaac who is expected to be selected in the top 10 during Thursday’s NBA draft after a strong freshman season aspires to live up to.
“I feel like he looks like me or I look like him, and just being skinny and not always being the strongest guy on the court,” Isaac said of Durant, the recent NBA Finals MVP, during an interview the National Basketball Players Association thisweek.
“But it’s being able to be effective and efficient like heis.… He scores in somany different ways, and how he’s just multifaceted.”
After his lone season of college basketball, assessments of Isaac have shifted to other high-profile NBA superstars such as Anthony Davis, because of his lateblooming height and guardlike skillset, and Kristaps Porzingis, for his ability to be a rim protector and outside shooter.
Isaac needs to develop his 6-foot-11, 210-pound frame, but he has the physical tools, skills and heightened basketball IQ to be labeled by many NBA pundits as the player with the highest ceiling in the draft. His college coaches rave about one attribute that could be the difference in his potential evolution into an All-NBA, franchise player: his selflessness.
“The thing that separates him and makes him so special is the fact he sees the game through a very mature set of eyes,” said FSU coach Leonard Hamilton, who is attending the draft in New York. “It means something to him to block the shot, get the steal, to get the rebound, to hit the free throws, the hockey assist all those little things excite him about the game of basketball. That makes him a lot more dangerous than a guy that’s only scoring baskets.”
Isaac’s college statistics12 points and 7.8 rebounds per gameon50.8 percent shooting might not seem as gaudy because FSU rotated 12 players into games during its NCAA Tournament run last season.
But Isaac’s advanced statistics are up to par with Kansas standout Josh Jackson and Duke’s Jayson Tatum, prospects considered better small forwards in the draft.
Isaac produced more points on offense (122.2 per 100 possessions) than Tatum (111.3) and Jackson (110.7) while surrendering fewer points on defense (93.6) than Jackson (96.0) and Tatum (97.8). Isaac also has a better overall player efficiency rating (24.6) than Jackson (24.1) and Tatum (22).
“People have to look more at how we played,” FSU assistant coach Stan Jones said, “instead of pin the pigeon hole on Jonathan not doing something that he wasn’t coached to do.”
With Washington guard Markelle Fultz expected to go first overall to the Philadelphia 76ers, and players like UCLA guard Lonzo Ball, Jackson, Tatum and Kentucky guard De’Aaron Fox considered top-five talent, Isaac could land with the Orlando Magic as the No. 6 pick or the Minnesota Timberwolves at No. 7 in the most ideal scenarios.
FSU shooting guard Dwayne Bacon, from Lakeland, hopes to hear his name called in the second round, while point guard Xavier Rathan-Mayes and center Michael Ojo expect invites from teams to participate in the NBA Summer League after the draft.
Isaac could become the second highest NBA draft pick in Florida State history, behind Boston Celtics great Dave Cowens, who was selected fourth in 1970. He will also become the second one-and-done player in school history, joining guard Malik Beasley in last year’s draft, to be taken in the first round.
“[Isaac’s] upside is just so much, but the thing that makes him so important is he’s a rare breed nowadays because he’s kinda over himself,” Jones said. “He wants to win, and he really doesn’t care who gets the credit as long as he’s on a team that’s winning. He’s just an unselfish spirit with a humble heart.”