We have seen some great in-season tournaments in the past (Battle 4 Atlantis, Maui Invitational, etc.), but the Players Era Festival has simply taken things to another level. Last year’s debut featured 8 teams, but this year there is an 18-team field featuring some of the best teams from the best conferences in the country. It is taking place this week in Las Vegas, and we could not be more excited to be there in person! HoopsHD is covering all the angles so you can look forward to an abundance of access in the days ahead. Jon Teitel continues our coverage from Sin City with an interview of Autumn Nelson, whose son Isaiah plays for Maryland.
Your son Isaiah played 31 games as a freshman at Washington State: how was he able to come in and contribute right from the start? His talent and his drive: he has been training his whole life for this, so I know that he has the endurance to see it through.
In the 2024 NCAA tourney he had 3 STL in a win over Drake before losing to Iowa State: what is your favorite memory from his time in “March Madness”? I recall 1 specific play that he made to keep his team in the game against Iowa State. He only played 10 minutes but it was a monumental game-changer.
After only scoring 4 PPG as a freshman, he scored 11 PPG as a sophomore: how was he able to improve so much from Year 1 to Year 2? Reps, practice, constantly being in the gym, and improving his craft over anything else. His dad trained him to be that way and he wants to go to the NBA, so it is an instinct for him.
He also averaged 1.7 SPG last year: how is he able to balance his offense with his defense? It was how his coach played him: he had to learn to pick up his defense if he wanted to get any sort of playing time. I think that his talent lies on offense, but he has worked very hard on his defense.
He missed 10 games last year due to a left-hand injury: how bad was it, and how was he able to get back onto the court? It was bad, both physically and mentally: he had to get out of that funk and it was a bad time for him. He is normally a very resilient young man, but it took him a minute to get back onto the court, especially with the coaching change in 2024 from Kyle Smith to David Riley.
He had 12 PTS/3 STL in a loss to Gonzaga last February: any predictions for the rematch with the Bulldogs tonight? Every player on every team just seems so new: it is hard to say. Gonzaga is located in our home state, so Isaiah knows a lot of those kids…but of course I am picking Maryland!
Why did he decide to transfer last spring, and what made him choose Maryland? It just was not a good fit for him and his long-term goals. The opportunity to play in the Big 10 for Buzz Williams is the type of leadership that was custom-designed for him. It is his ideal team culture, which is big for him. Buzz hand-picked a brand-new team, but it was a plus that Myles Rice was already on the team.
He was also a teammate of Myles in Pullman: how close are they, and how nice has it been for them to reunite in College Park? It is amazing! They are brothers who have each other’s backs and have similar energy: they are cheerleaders for the team and are great role models. They are super-close, so it is wonderful for me as a mom to know that my son has someone around to ensure that he is okay.
His father Donald played basketball at Washington, and his grandfather Slick made the 1978 NBA Finals with Seattle: who is the best athlete in the family? I would choose me…even though people do not always realize that Isaiah has a mom! Donald is a very good athlete, but Isaiah has a grace about him, which I think comes more from my side.
I assume it is hard to see many of his games in person since you live across the country in Washington State: how excited are you to get to see him play 3 games in Vegas at the Players Era Festival? I feel complete again. He brings our blended families together as the final piece. It is wonderful to see him in person: he is my heart!
