Isaiah Collier enrolled at USC as the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2023 On3 Industry Rankings and the general consensus was the 6-foot-4, 210-pound guard would be on his way to the NBA lottery after one season with the Trojans.
An injury to his right hand cost him a sizable chunk of the season and a down year for the USC team put a general damper on his one season in cardinal and gold. Collier slid a bit in the draft from what was expected when he arrived at USC, but he still became the Trojans’ 15th first-round selection in the NBA draft in going No. 29 overall to the Utah Jazz. He’s also the ninth USC player selected in the first round since 2007 and the fourth in the past six seasons.
Collier was seen as a terrific selection by the Jazz. On3’s James Fletcher III graded each of the first-round selections. The match of Collier and Utah was one of just three to receive an A+.
“The Utah Jazz get one of the steals of the first round, selecting On3’s No. 12 ranked prospect this late in the first round. Isaiah Collier also fills an area of need, providing the team with a traditional point guard who can help initiate offense.
Collier struggled early in the college basketball season, but quietly turned things around and finished well after an injury. He dropped down draft boards and has not been able to fully recover, perhaps influenced by the disappointment surrounding his team. The 6-foot-5 guard is capable of initiating the offense, and could continue building on his improved efficiency numbers. The No. 1 player in the On3 Industry rankings has plenty left to unlock.”
Not a member, USC fans? Join WeAreSC today!
Have you subscribed to WeAreSC.com yet? You can sign up for ONE MONTH of premium access to our USC coverage for just $1! Read all of WeAreSC’s premium articles and nuggets covering USC sports and recruiting and join thousands of other Trojan fans around the globe on the WeAreSC message board! CLICK HERE!
The post USC’s Isaiah Collier named a ‘first-round steal’ appeared first on On3.