{"id":76428,"date":"2024-05-06T15:20:23","date_gmt":"2024-05-06T19:20:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=76428"},"modified":"2024-05-06T15:20:23","modified_gmt":"2024-05-06T19:20:23","slug":"isaiah-collier-2024-nba-draft-profile","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/05\/06\/isaiah-collier-2024-nba-draft-profile\/","title":{"rendered":"Isaiah Collier 2024 NBA Draft Profile"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">USC freshman <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/isaiah-collier-2.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Isaiah Collier<\/a> was one of the Trojans\u2019 best guards this season. Despite <a href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/uscs-isaiah-collier-on-return-to-court-and-overcoming-adversity-this-season-a-learning-process-for-all-of-us-143038940.html?guccounter=1&amp;guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&amp;guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAIS4-BvkEqZl1CfW6IfYi4n7qvQ1SqKj5TBf-g14Z2vrAkSlXg-y68HkemBprxCWsjPgOGcuT5dPzAQni0Af2Ah7BtuIGCcdqLGfmUt3TAkYLBn0jzITVMKnoLlhEE3mYAN0dLKsMCCxlSoy4b4ggEa554aArYXRgmcUcATbRVMF\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">missing part of the year due to a hand injury<\/a>, Collier possesses a plethora of traits that will help him thrive on an NBA roster.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Isaiah Collier 2024 NBA Draft Profile<\/b><\/h2>\n<h3><b>College Career<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Collier played in 27 of USC\u2019s 33 games, averaging 16.3 points, 4.3 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. He shot 49% from the field, 33% from distance and 67% from the free-throw line. The Georgia native had a deep impact on the Trojans despite their sub-.500 season\u2014their first losing season since 2018-19, and the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbssports.com\/college-basketball\/news\/smu-hires-andy-enfield-usc-coach-leaves-trojans-after-11-seasons-to-lead-mustangs-into-acc-era\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">final one of the Andy Enfield era<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Collier\u2019s efforts earned him a spot on the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/college\/usc\/isaiah-collier-earns-major-pre-draft-invite-ak1987\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All-Pac 12 Freshman Team<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. His <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/basketball.realgm.com\/ncaa\/conferences\/Pacific-12-Conference\/7\/stats\/2024\/Averages\/Qualified\/All\/Season\/SG\/points\/desc\/1\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">per-game scoring average was the top mark<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> among all shooting guards in the conference.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Isaiah Collier Drops A CAREER-HIGH 31 PTS In USC&#039;s Win At Washington\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/VdfRuYo5DIw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><b>Strengths<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The 6\u20194\u201d guard is a gifted finisher, using his speed to fly past opponents and score with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/S39kpJbFe6A?si=2rrCgkEZSXtO-i5n&amp;t=45\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">an array of moves<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, from reverse layups to floaters. Collier also uses every ounce of his 210-pound frame to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/S39kpJbFe6A?si=e-suwUUjfucAb3eT&amp;t=134\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">bully defenders in the paint<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The freshman\u2019s <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/S39kpJbFe6A?si=68s3PafJBWd3JKzi&amp;t=90\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">jump shot<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014at least inside the arc\u2014is just as effective, as he stops and pops whenever defenders take away his driving lanes. Eight of his 11 attempts per game came from two-point range, and he converted 54% of them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Collier isn\u2019t just a strong player, but an athletic one as well. He shows off his hops with frequent transition slams, and his hang time only helps his crafty layups.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lastly, the young guard is just as effective of a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/S39kpJbFe6A?si=vYKFrCjQ7E3Kpjj0&amp;t=840\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">playmaker<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as he is a scorer. Collier dropped 115 dimes to his teammates this season\u2014leading USC with an assist percentage of 31% and boosting in his status as an offensive threat. He also led USC in Points Produced this season (434), and his court vision is an underrated aspect of his game.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Weaknesses<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite his offensive strengths, there are significant hurdles that prevented Collier from maintaining his status as a surefire high draft pick. The main one is his shooting. Collier\u2019s aforementioned 33% from deep came off of one make for every three attempts. That will not fly in a league that is dominated by the three ball. His poor free-throw shooting is another area of improvement, especially for a guard who willingly takes contact at the rim.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Additionally, Collier is not the best defender, and is arguably a liability on that end of the floor. Despite his frame and speed, Collier was not the point-of-attack defender you\u2019d expect him to be. As clips like <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/UrR5-0cU8Bg?si=kYuBJkRFFRVW5JB7&amp;t=820\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">this one<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> show, he was unable to keep up with quicker offensive players and was often watching the ball instead of preventing his opponent from getting a touch. Collier can jump passing lanes and get occasional blocks, but he must remain engaged on defense instead of only seeing the floor.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lastly, Collier\u2019s turnover frequency is <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/college\/usc\/basketball\/usc-basketball-draft-expert-disappointed-by-isaiah-colliers-deficiencies-mb2002\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">an issue that&#8217;s plagued him all year long<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. His 115 assists were countered with 89 turnovers this season, and he averaged 6.3 turnovers per 100 possessions. For a floor general as talented as Collier is, he must tighten up his ability to protect the ball.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>NBA Comparison<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Collier\u2019s physicality, playmaking, and scoring may remind some of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/e\/evansty01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tyreke Evans<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Both guards are quick and physical for their frames, with Evans being measured at 6\u20196\u201d and 220 pounds. Evans\u2019 versatility allowed him to play both guard spots and on the wing. While Collier may be more limited to either guard slot, he holds similar skills to Evans, particularly the ability to score and facilitate without relying on the three-ball (though Evans did eventually grow into a solid perimeter marksman).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another fair comparison for Collier is <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/l\/lowryky01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kyle Lowry<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Despite the stark differences in perimeter shooting, both share a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/03\/29\/2024-nba-draft-pro-comparisons-part-1\/\" target=\"_self\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cbulldog point guard\u201d type of mold<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which again is a nod towards the physicality they use to their advantage. Collier has a long way to go before living up to the Lowry expectations, but it\u2019s a reasonable type of ceiling for him to achieve.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>2024 NBA Draft Projection<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/04\/15\/2024-nba-mock-draft-3-0-post-march-madness\/\" target=\"_self\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mid-to-late first-round pick<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>USC freshman Isaiah Collier was one of the Trojans\u2019 best guards this season. Despite missing part of the year due to a hand injury, Collier possesses a plethora of traits that will help him thrive on an NBA roster. Isaiah Collier 2024 NBA Draft Profile College Career Collier played in 27 of USC\u2019s 33 games, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4265,"featured_media":69060,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1608,773,556],"tags":[49040,4930,885],"class_list":["post-76428","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basketball","category-college-basketball","category-nba-draft","tag-2024-nba-draft","tag-isaiah-collier","tag-usc-trojans"],"modified_by":"Jordan Pagkalinawan","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/76428","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4265"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=76428"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/76428\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/69060"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=76428"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=76428"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=76428"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}