Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Isaac trending upwards
FSU freshman is averaging 12.5 points, 7.5 rebounds a game
TALLAHASSEE — Professional scouts and executives continue to fawn over the potential Florida State standout Jonathan Isaac is displaying during his first season of college basketball.
Isaac is trying to being distracted by the attention and projections stating he could be a lottery pick in the upcoming NBA Draft.
“I just try not to think about it and try to stay focused,” Isaac said Monday, two days after recording 17 points and 12 rebounds during FSU’s loss at North Carolina.
“I try to be completely into the game plan, the scouting, and with my team. I’m not focused on the outside [distractions] as much. Everything will fall into place and handle itself.”
The Seminoles (16-2, 4-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) remain in the top 10 of the Associated Press top 25 rankings for the second consecutive week, dropping two spots to No. 10 of the latest poll released Monday.
FSU will host No. 15 Notre Dame on Wednesday and No. 12 Louisville on Saturday. Notre Dame, No. 9 UNC and FSU are the three best teams in the conference standings, followed by a pack of 3-2 teams led by No. 16 Virginia and Louisville.
Isaac’s rising confidence has proven to be a vital asset for the Seminoles, who had their school-record 12-game win streak
snapped in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Despite his lengthy but slender 6-10, 210-pound frame, Isaac is averaging 12.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.
While his teammates are encouraging him to be more of an offensive force, Isaac says he’s trying to affect games more on the defensive end.
Isaac’s towering block at the rim on Duke’s Jayson Tatum — a player who NBA scouts equally covet — was instrumental in the second half of FSU’s blowout home win over the Blue Devils last week.
“I just want to be a multi-faceted player, and not somebody that only wants to score the ball or only wants the ball in their hands,” said Isaac, who enrolled at FSU as the No. 2 small forward in the country behind Tatum. “I just want to do anything I can to help this team win.”
Isaac has played in all but three games for the Seminoles this season, after suffering a hip pointer injury that disrupted the rhythm he established in the first seven games of his career.
While sidelined, Isaac tried to be a consummate teammate from the bench while learning from other players and watching film with coaches. He is continuing to regain his confidence, but admits there were some struggles trying to figure out his place offensively.
Isaac said he has received guidance and advice from all of his FSU coaches and teammates, but has depended on star guard Dwayne Bacon, who was also a highly regarded freshman, and fifth-year center Michael Ojo, a defensive leader, during the rough stretch.
“My confidence has just continued to rise,” Isaac said. “I’m noticing that I can do so many things other than just score the ball. I want to be able to do everything for my team, and just make plays.”
FSU coach Leonard Hamilton said Isaac’s high basketball IQ will allow him to continue helping bolster the Seminoles.
But Hamilton wants more from his rising star.
Hamilton wants Isaac to “interject himself into the fray” more as the Seminoles are striving for their first NCAA Tournament bid since winning the ACC in 2012.
“As he continues to go through the season, he’s going to be much more effective,” Hamilton said. “He’s not only physically ready and improved, I think mentally and emotionally he’ll understand what it’s like to compete at this level ...”