Name: Isaiah Collier
Height: 6′ 2.50” without shoes
Weight: 205
School: USC
Draft Age: 19
5 Star 2 overall prospect in the class
In our mock draft 3.0, I drafted for the Washington Wizards and said I’d go with Isaiah Collier because he’s a better pure PG prospect than Nikola Topic. Both of them are pretty similar. Both are ball-dominant, with high usage, assists, and high turnover players.
Collier was a very highly touted prospect going into USC. With Collier going to USC, he was thought to be put in a good position. Still, admittedly, with a lot of noise in the situation, Bronny James joined him, with high-level big man prospects not performing up to expectations, a devastating injury bug, and Los Angeles, in general, is a much different situation than any other prospect.
Offense
The strongest part of his game is his speed going downhill. No one in this class has a quicker and more effective first step than him, and he is an excellent finisher who finishes at 61.7 at the rim.
He can win by using his speed, his handle, screens, or strength. Once he gets to the hoop, he has a big bag to get his layups over or around defenders. He has the best array of finishing moves in the draft class.
His biggest offensive issue is his long-range game; until he figures out his shooting touch, he will be one-dimensional. Ron Holland, Nikola Topic, and Stephon Castle have shooting issues in this class. So Collier’s lack of jump shot isn’t as significant of an issue as it would be for a regular draft class, and the speed, craft, and finishing ability are such a rare commodity.
Collier had some serious turnover issues earlier in the season, but as he got used to playing college ball, it became apparent that he was a fantastic passer. He can make every pass you need from a point guard. Collier’s speed and vision allow him to see angles and wholes in the defense that others can’t.
Earlier in the year, he was an awful defender, but as it got later in the year he got to be a better and better defender. When he’s locked in I think he can be a positive defender.
Weakness
He has had Turnover issues that can hamper an offense. Some of the passes that result in turnovers are him just trying to make a play, but some of them are he’s trying to force-feed a pass that results in awful turnovers.
Most of his shots look hurried and rushed. What worries me about his long-term shooting is his 67% shooting from the free-throw line; free-throws are used as an indicator for touch and shooting ability, and his being that mid is scary.
With all the shooting issues that still need to be ironed out, I think a team that could be patient with him would be ideal. He’s not going to be a player who can fit in a playoff win now; he’s got to be a building block who needs time to reach his full potential.
Holy Backboard 