NBA Draft: New No. 1 Candidate Emerges
Breaking down Isaiah Collier, the exciting USC point guard
At this time a year ago, even casual basketball fans knew the top prospect in the 2023 draft class. France's Victor Wembanyama had been labeled as the No. 1 overall pick in 2023 even before he could acquire a driver's license.
The 2024 draft is the exact opposite, with an abundance of uncertainty surrounding the prospects at the top of draft boards.
While Ron Holland, Alex Sarr, and Matas Buzelis have their fair share of supporters, USC freshman point guard Isaiah Collier is often mentioned as a dark horse candidate to be the first name called by Adam Silver next June.
In his first two college games, Collier displayed why he was a highly touted recruit coming out of the Atlanta metro area, showcasing a rare blend of size, strength, power, and speed for a lead guard, scoring 18.5 points per game while handing out 5.5 assists on 65% shooting.
One scout told me:
He's the best prospect in college basketball. It sounds cliché, but he really impacts games. He's always in attack mode and looking to make plays. He's an engine.