LOS ANGELES — The mock drafts have already come calling, a buzz a 19-year-old Isaiah Collier shakes off with a smile.
He’s focused on college, the USC freshman says after a Tuesday practice, a kid of few public words. The hype is real, though, and mounting; a range of evaluators, from ESPN to CBS Sports, have Collier tabbed as the first name called by Adam Silver in June’s NBA Draft, which could reasonably make him the first No. 1 overall draft pick in USC men’s basketball history. And it’s been easy to see why – he’s scoring emphatically and efficiently through seven games as a Trojan, the jumper proven and the body control unteachable, a tremendous all-around package within a burly frame.
But around USC, he’s far from a finished product, and he knows it. As of Friday afternoon, he was tied for third in the NCAA in turnovers – his speed is electric, and a source of pride, but often has led to him careening a dribble into the seats. He has made brilliant reads, a natural-born point guard. He has also whipped passes directly to the wrong-colored jerseys.
“Sometimes, it’s unfair to expect too much out of a freshman,” Coach Andy Enfield said, “because it is a difficult position, and it takes some time.”
He expects plenty of himself, though. After his second game against Cal State Bakersfield, when he scored 19 points, Collier called his performance “shaky” after a three-straight-turnover stretch in the second half. And Collier’s rapidly taken to watching film outside of practice with a variety of coaches, he has said, to break down every single play from games and examine his reads.
It showed, in a win against Eastern Washington on Wednesday night. Collier had just two turnovers, none of them live-ball, and six assists. Enfield felt he could have had 10 assists, reasonable considering some missed threes off swing passes and cutters who were fouled.
“I think you saw a lot of growth tonight,” Enfield grinned postgame, “where he didn’t fly in there and leave his feet and flip a ball or throw a ball 100 miles an hour to someone that didn’t have a white jersey on.”
“Very appreciative that, he watched some video this week,” the coach continued later, “and made an effort to improve.”
Collier has been thrust into unenviable positions at times, tasked with serving as perhaps the only true lead guard on USC’s roster in a loss to UC Irvine in which Boogie Ellis, Kobe Johnson and Bronny James also sat out. The ultimate potential for him leading USC’s attack, though, is evident, a point who can fly downhill and find shooters or rollers from a variety of angles. And he’ll face the biggest test yet in his development against No. 11 Gonzaga on Saturday night in Las Vegas, the fiercest nonconference opponent on USC’s schedule, a Bulldogs team ripe with interior presence that starts two experienced guards in Ryan Nembhard and Nolan Hickman.
Another key Saturday will be center Joshua Morgan, who has averaged 2.9 blocked shots per game as a senior but told the Southern California News Group he felt he hasn’t been as stout defensively this year, in technique and rebounding. Gonzaga doesn’t thrive from 3-point range, but shoots 58% from inside the arc thanks to bruisers Anton Watson and Graham Ike. Morgan’s interior presence will be sorely needed for a major lift.
“He’s our best defensive big, he’s our best shot blocker – he’s kind of the quarterback of the defensive system,” Enfield said.
USC VS. No. 11 GONZAGA
What: Las Vegas Invitational
When: Saturday, 7 p.m.
Where: MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas
TV/Radio: ESPN, 790 AM
