NBA Draft Scouting Report: USC's Isaiah Collier
Isaiah Collier
Guard | USC
Height: 6'4” | Weight: 205 lbs
2024 Draft Age: 19.70
Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports
Prospect Profile
A strong lead guard with a frame that’s ready for the NBA, Collier has the chance to be the first guard selected in the 2024 NBA Draft. He’s an extremely smart player and can legitimately carry an offense. What sticks out when watching him play is the confidence and chip on his shoulder. He has a contagious energy that sparks his team frequently.
As a scorer, the USC freshman can take over games. He seems most comfortable getting to the rim, boasting a crafty arsenal of dribble moves to go along with his strong frame and good balance. Not only can he break down his defender, but he can also bully his way into the lane and is great at drawing fouls, which will interest NBA teams. Once he does get to the rim, Collier can finish with finesse and touch, or throw down powerful dunks. Simply put, he's tough to stop from getting to the paint and scoring.
While his jumper has improved, the 6-foot-3 guard still has work to do on that front to truly become a dominant scorer from all three levels. If he's able to do that, he'll become even more difficult to guard as defenses will have to play more honest on the perimeter.
As good of a scorer as he is, Collier’s biggest strength is facilitation, as he’s a natural playmaker for not only himself but also for others. His ability to navigate pick-and-role situations is elite for his age, which should be a very translatable skill when he one day makes the jump to the NBA. The vision he possesses is one of the best in this upcoming draft class and the types of passes he actually makes are physically impressive. He has a patient style of play, which is unique given how quick and powerful he is with the ball in his hands.
Defensively, we’ll learn a lot from Collier in the upcoming season. He has the tools to be a quality defender at the college level, but that will certainly be a swing skill for him. Especially given he’s not tall enough to guard wings, his point of attack defense and the ability to play team defense within a system will be key for him.
Collier will play alongside Bronny James this upcoming season in what will be one of the most exciting young backcourts in the entire country. Both will have the chance to be one-and-done prospects that make a quick jump to the NBA.
Highlights
Draft Projection
Top 5 Pick in 2024 NBA Draft.
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