We have not even reached the end of the college basketball regular season but can already start wondering about the stars of tomorrow as the best high school players in the country prepare to receive some national exposure. The McDonald’s All-American Game will take place in Houston on March 28th in Houston, TX, and the Nike Hoop Summit will tip off on April 8th in Portland, OR. Several of this year’s college basketball super-freshmen played in last year’s McDonald’s Game including Gradey Dick (Kansas)/Keyonte George (Baylor)/Jarace Walker (Houston). Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Isaiah Collier about trying to win a 3rd state title and choosing the Trojans.
Your coach at Wheeler High School is your uncle (Larry Thompson): what kind of bond have you 2 formed over the past few years? The bond was formed well before high school: he has been there for me every step of the way.
Your school won back-to-back Class 6A state championships in 2020/2021 but lost in the title game in 2022: do you think that you can make it back there again this year? That is definitely the goal and we have the team to do that. We are working hard but just taking it 1 game at a time.
You suffered a meniscus injury while working out with team USA last spring: how is your health at the moment? I am doing really well: I did not rush myself to get back onto the court.
Your cousin, Khalil Hardison, who also played basketball at Wheeler, drowned last August during a kayaking trip on the Chattahoochee River: what impact has this tragedy had on your own life? It had a huge impact. I had just came back from the Elite 24 Camp when it happened: he was my best friend.
You received offers from several great schools including Cincinnati/Michigan but signed with USC last November: what was the biggest factor in your decision, and do you think the Trojans will make the NCAA tourney next month? I built a great relationship with all of the coaches and got to know them really well. I think that if they can beat Arizona next week then they will make the tourney.
Your brother lives out in Los Angeles: what does he do out there, and are we going to see him at the Galen Center attending all of your games? He is in the film industry and should be there for sure. He has been out in LA for a few years now.
1 of the other highly-ranked recruits heading to Los Angeles this fall is your high school teammate Arrinten Page: is this a happy coincidence or had the 2 of you been planning to attend the same college all along? It was just a nice coincidence.
You are 6’4”: what position do you play now, and what position will you feel most comfortable at in college? I play the PG right now but will play whatever position they put me at in college.
In the past couple of months you were named to both the McDonald’s All-American Game as well as the Nike Hoop Summit roster for Team USA: what did it mean to you to receive such outstanding honors? It means a lot, especially after losing my cousin. It has been a blessing and something to smile about for sure.
Another player who is both a McDonald’s/Nike honoree is Bronny James, who scored 22 PTS against you last month in a win by Sierra Canyon and has not chosen a college yet but reportedly has the Trojans on his short list: will you be doing any recruiting when you get to see him again in the months ahead?! Definitely!