Ruben Report: Isaiah Collier’s Freshman Season Will Be The Best For Any USC Point Guard Ever

I’ve received some flack from opining that freshman star Isaiah Collier could be USC’s best point guard ever. I’m doubling down and going out on a limb and making an absolute statement; he will be the best. Isaiah has only played in two exhibition games for the Trojans, which is basically no sample size at all. Yet, I’m that confident.

The Trojans have had a few historically great shooting guards such as Paul Westphal, Gus Williams and Harold Miner. Nick Young might head a second-level group. The Trojans have also had a few very good point guards but no great ones. The best two USC point guards in my opinion are Jordan McLaughlin and Brandon Granville. Is Larry Friend next, or Robert Pack, though Pack wasn’t a true point guard? With some exceptions, college teams didn’t begin designating a lead or point guard until the last thirty years or so, thus limiting the time span in which to find star points.

For simplicity let’s take a deep dive into the skill sets of Isaiah, JMac and BG.

High School Careers, Size And Defense

We’ll begin with these comparisons. Isaiah is the No. 1 recruit in the country. He is listed at 6-foot-5, though he may be a bit shorter, and 210 pounds. Most importantly, he is very quick not only for a player of his size but for any guard. He is also a plus defender who will not hurt the team defensively.

JMac was Andy Enfield’s first major recruit. A highly regarded four-star who was listed at 6-foot and 185 pounds thought he also may not be that big. He has good but not exceptional quickness and very good hands-on defense. He was able to accumulate a lot of steals at USC mostly due to his quick hands and excellent anticipation, though some opponents could take advantage of him defensively due to his lack of size. JMac was the unquestioned floor leader for the Trojans.

BG was listed at 5-foot-9 and 175 pounds. He was not highly recruited out of Westchester High School. Teammate forward David Bluthenthal who came with BG to USC was more highly recruited. Although he didn’t look quick, BG holds the Trojan carrier steals record and he also was the floor leader for a team that made the Elite Eight under Henry Bobby. Opponents were able to get perimeter shots over him.

BG played with conference POY Sam Clancy on the Trojans’ Elite Eight team. He didn’t have to carry the Trojans offensively and was not the best player on his Trojan teams.

JMac also played with a few very good college players. Bennie Boatwright averaged 14.5 ppg in his four years at USC and Chimezie Metu averaged over 12 ppg in his three-year Trojan career and has been playing in the NBA. In reviewing the whole package I believe JMac was the best player on his teams at USC.

It is hard to predict how Isaiah’s teammates’ Trojan careers will look when they leave USC. Undoubtedly, Boogie Ellis will have had three very good scoring seasons. Kobe Johnson is a potential NBA player with his tremendous all-around game. And Vince Iwuchukwu could have a future NBA career. Even so, I expect Isaiah will prove to be the best player on his team even though many believe Boogie is the pre-season Pac-12 player of the year.

Collier Comparison With Scoring And Ball Handling

Isaiah scored 30 points in the first two games in Greece. He is tremendous getting to the rim and can finish through contact. The only blemish on his skill set coming out of high school was his ability to make perimeter shots, though he made two threes in the second game on the European trip. He was kept out of the lane for most of the second game through double teams when he got the ball outside, which he may face over the course of the coming season. His assist numbers were not remarkable in the two games and he had too many turnovers. However, every expert and recruiting guru has raved about his ability to hit the open man and complete difficult passes through small windows, a la Caleb Williams.

JMac scored between 12.1 and 13.4 points each season at USC. In his senior season, he averaged 12.8 and set the single-season USC record with 281 assists in 36 games. He also had a tremendous 3:1 A/TO ratio. He is the all-time career and single-season assist leader for USC and made 40% from three in his last three seasons.

BG averaged 12.5 ppg as a senior and 11.5 over his career. His best assist season was his sophomore season in which he had 248 assists and 117 TOs, or 2:1. As a senior he had 184 assists and 79 TOs. In that year he made only 32% of his threes, the worst percentage in his career. He made as high as 37% as a junior.

So Why Will Collier Be Better than His Predecessors?

Isaiah likely won’t come close to a 3:1 A/TO ratio. Nor will he make 40% from three. But his skill set sets him apart in one extremely important area. As we have already seen he will command double teams. Even at the expense of giving Boogie more room to operate some opposing teams will do anything to stop Isaiah from controlling the game. This is what set him apart in high school and the several all star games he played in this spring and summer.

Teams will be afraid of a 6’5” guard at two hundred pounds plus racing down the court who can overpower practically anyone on the break, especially if the defenders are not set, and who has the ability to finish or pass with equal effectiveness. JMac was fast but he never overpowered anyone and never was double-teamed. BG had a finesse component to his game.

Isaiah can split double teams and keep attacking. His combination of size, speed, and strength separates him from every other Trojan point guard and almost any college PG and is why he was the top-ranked player in his class.

And One

Making this prediction in August about a freshman player is risky and may be a bit crazy. But the same prediction could have been made at the same time of year for Evan Mobley and have been correct. He is the best Trojan big ever.

Isaiah’s assists will increase if DJ Rodman plays outside more and/or if Bronny James comes back this season. They are two more very good shooters for Isaiah to find as the defense collapses around him. If he can make 32-35% of his threes defenses will need to extend further giving him more room to drive to the rim or drive and kick. If the Trojans are to have the season many USC fans expect it will be due in significant measure to the play of Isaiah Collier.

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