USC Basketball: Isaiah Collier Slides In New NBA Mock Draft

The USC star freshman is still considered a lottery pick.

The USC Trojans have one of the most talented guards in the country: former top recruit in the 2023 class, guard Isaiah Collier. Collier hasn't had a bit of an up-and-down season, and injuries have much to do with it. 

However, he's still perceived as a top pick in the NBA Draft. According to CBS Sports, Collier remains a lottery pick but has fallen in their new NBA Mock Draft. 

CBS Sports has Collier going to number nine to the Houston Rockets. However, CBS Sports insider Gary Parrish worries about the freshman guards' ball security. 

Collier remains an interesting prospect, but his likely only season at USC has not gone well. The 6-5 point guard only guided the Trojans to an 8-8 start before being sidelined with a hand injury. In those 16 games, the five-star freshman turned it over 3.6 times in 28.5 minutes per contest while missing nearly seven out of every 10 3-pointers he attempted. Both numbers are concerning and suggest that Collier needs to show improvement when he returns presumably later this month to lessen some concerns that have shown themselves.

via CBS Sports

Collier missed six games due to a hand injury. Although he's one of the Trojans' brightest stars, his ball security and field goal efficiencies are a big worry. As Parrish mentioned, he turns over the ball too many times, which is the last thing you want to do as a point guard. On top of that, his field goal percentages are poor. 

He's shooting 48.6% from the field, 30.9% from three, and only 66.7% from the charity stripe. His overall averages are acceptable, but his shooting numbers aren't pretty. 

In the NBA, Collier must be able to knock down shots and hit his free throws. The numbers say he can't, and maybe a jump to the pro level won't be the best move for the 6'5" guard. 

The freshman has yet to decide whether he will jump to the next level. At the moment, he's worried about finishing the season strong in Southern California.