With just under two weeks until the 2024 NBA Draft, many high school basketball players are on the verge of seeing their dreams come true.
One of those players is Isaiah Collier, a highly touted guard out of USC, who entered the draft after averaging a respectable 16.3 points, 4.3 assists and 1.5 sprints as a freshman on 49 percent shooting from the field.
There was some doubt as to whether Collier would be invited to the draft in the famed Green Room, as the league typically invites surefire first-round draft picks and their families to the event in person.
Collier's draft rating has been a bit shaky, but the prevailing wisdom is that he'll still be selected in the first round. Per Jonathan Givony's reporting, it seems most NBA teams rate Collier highly.
NEWS: USC point guard Isaiah Collier has received a Green Room invitation to attend the NBA Draft with his family, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/26tE5iNSx4
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) June 14, 2024
An ESPN reporter revealed that Collier has received an invitation to come to Brooklyn on June 26th.
Collier has a few traits that will translate well to the NBA. First, he has the build for the point guard position – a big, muscular frame that can withstand the physical rigors of the sport. Collier has great passing instincts, and athletically, you won't be overwhelmed by the quickness and speed you see from him.
While they're not “apples to apples” as players, Collier shares some similarities with former NBA player Deron Williams. Collier needs to improve his 3-point shooting efficiency (33.8% last year), and he averaged 3.3 turnovers per game with the Trojans. Being good with the ball will be a must if he wants to play long as a rookie.
Collier was one of the most promising prep school prospects coming into the school year. USC was far from a stable environment last year. Collier had to compete for touches and shots with veteran Boogie Ellis. USC's season was marred early by numerous injuries and the team as a whole was very disjointed.
There is a world out there where Collier could realize the immense potential he had as a product of Atlanta, it just takes the right fit, but there is a lot of work to be done.
More USC news: USC basketball: Eric Musselman evaluates Troy's roster, acknowledges two weaknesses
