Quietly chugging along behind Dwayne Bacon and Xavier Rathan-Mayes in Florida State’s starting rotation, Isaac has been the victim of a deep rotation in some ways. He hasn’t had the same all-encompassing role as plays like Dennis Smith or Markelle Fultz, while the Noles’ inexplicable-tendencies to substitute in waves limits both Isaac’s playing time and consistency on the court.
To put that in perspective, Isaac is one of only two collegiate players in my top 10 not averaging over 30 minutes per game this season. As of now, he’s tallying 25.2 per game.
At 6-11 with a 7-2 wingspan, though, Isaac is a physical anomaly at the small forward spot, and one that provides plenty of upside in a myriad of different facets down the road. He’ll likely have to get stronger as he ups the level of competition, but he’s perfectly constructed to excel as a small ball four, with his switch-heavy prowess on defense and versatile scoring at all three levels giving NBA teams plenty to build off of.
Isaac has shown some extremely promising signs on the offensive side of the ball this season, and that starts with his basketball I.Q. He’s not a playmaker yet, and his self-creation isn’t of the most developed variety, but he plays well within the flow of the teams offense. He doesn’t force shots, and understands how to locate his spots on the floor at a high level. He takes advantages of mismatches when presented (quite often), and is the type of under the radar glue guy that can help tie an offense together, while still holding the potential to grow into much more than that down the road.
Previous Ranking: 3
Isaac has been a reliable source of production from deep this season, hitting on 36.7 percent of his shots, with improvement coming as he has gotten more comfortable. His mid-range game has also proven proficient, where he’s averaging 39.2 percent of 2-point jumpers, while also increasing his capability off the bounce as the season has gone along. He still doesn’t boast the same elite isolation game that some of his counterparts in this year’s class do, but his size and rapid developmental curve could shift that narrative in the foreseeable future.
This type of quick, fluid spot-up shooting will give Isaac utility in almost every rotation.
Isaac has also shown some nice moves in the post, taking on smaller defenders and showing nice touch on his short turnaround jumpers. He’s also an instinctive rebounder, using his length to weave his way onto the boards, even when outmatched by stronger players.
Isaac’s combination of mobility and size — simply stated — gives him a sizable advantage in numerous scenarios. He can attack more traditional fours off the bounce, often beating them to the rim on straight-line drives or creating easy separation for a jumper. He can also shoot over smaller defenders, finding solid post position or simply leveraging his high release point as a consistent advantage.
Defensively, the same is true, As mentioned prior, his ability to switch around the perimeter — at that size — is a massive benefit to any system, and his interior defense should only improve as his frame fills out. He’s already a capable shot blocker when positioned to do so.
There’s a lot to like with Isaac’s game, as he’s a pleasing combination of both upside and NBA-ready talent. His lack of bulk could make him more of a project than the remainder of his upper echelon competition, but his value as a high lottery pick is without question — and he’s well worth taking your time with.