Rare are the players – excluding injuries or extra-sporting circumstances – to clock a time during a season at the top of mock drafts to finally not even remain among the players selected for the “lottery”. However, this is the case of Isaiah Collier, a player who is difficult to leave indifferent, for good or bad. Post 1 fast and powerful, he can tear a defense to pieces on a good evening with his incessant activity towards the circle. But also being terribly frustrating, on both sides of the field. Collier was also not helped by the context of a USC team – where he rubbed shoulders with Bronny James – which was very disappointing this season, and which performed much better with its leader on the floor than without. An NBA context with more space and better teammates could be greatly beneficial to him.
Profile
Job : leader
Size : 1m89
Weight : 93kg
Team : USC Trojans (NCAA)
Stats 2023/24: 16.3 points (at 49%), 2.9 rebounds, 4.3 assists in 29.8 minutes
Strong point
– Speed. Isaiah Collier may not have won the running clinics at the Draft Combine. In visual impression, however, he is the fastest player whether on a counter-attack in a pure sprint, or with the ball in hand to outflank his defender on half-court. Swift, the Trojan has a devastating first step and impressive foot speed to accelerate. No surprise to see him among the very best in the NCAA in transition, or in points scored in the paint per game (respectively 99e and 98e percentile).
Weak points
– IQ at creation. Collier is one of the rare players in this Draft who can also create regularly for others, with very good passing quality, both after the screen and to find the shooters on the opposite side. But its “particle accelerator” side sometimes turns into a “headless chicken”, with lost balls in spades (3.3 per match, six to 5 lost balls or more). The American sometimes looks too much for a spectacular gesture or plays at a tempo so much higher than the world around him that he sees himself whistled for numerous passages or sends his passes at the wrong time to his teammates.
– Outside shooting. To become a real danger, Isaiah Collier would do well to equip himself with at least a decent three-point shot to prevent defenses from systematically waiting for him in the circle attack. At 33.8% by far, the room for improvement is there, especially since he will not be able to gain the upper hand physically and athletically in the NBA as much as in the NCAA or in high school. He will also have to do better than his mediocre 67.3% on free throws, when he attempted almost six shots per game
Comparison
His style as a small athletic tank in the NCAA suggests a player in the register of a Jaden IveyA Russell Westbrook early career without the ability to be above the circle, or Ty Lawson.
Prognosis
Around the 20e placewhich could turn out to be a magnificent steal if Collier manages to put a little control into his game, and effort in defense.
