USC Basketball: Isaiah Collier Slips In Latest ESPN Mock Draft

An unfair overreaction?

In his latest 2024 NBA mock draft, Jonathan Givony of ESPN has demoted your USC Trojans' most promising freshman, 6'5" combo guard Isaiah Collier out of Murrieta, Georgia.

The 19-year-old had previously been listed by Givony as the No. 2 prospect among next year's crop (again, assuming he declares for the draft all, rather than maintaining his college eligibility), but has since slipped to No. 3. 

Now, to be fair, a draft pick is really just a prediction of future success. So Collier true believers should certainly not be deterred into thinking he's not going to be a legit pro. Michael Jordan was drafted third, after all!

Givony still has small forward Ron Holland, currently plying his trade with the G League Ignite like Scoot Henderson and other lottery prospects before him, as his no-brainer top pick. Perth Wildcats power forward/center Alex Sarr has rocketed up Givony's board, from the No. 4 prospect to now the No. 2 pick.

He explained his thinking following the Trojans' first game of the year, an 82-69 defeat of the Kansas State Wildcats. Collier was ejected in the second half.

"Collier and USC play in the most intriguing game of the opening day of college basketball, a neutral-court Las Vegas matchup with another top-25 caliber team in Kansas State. The 6-foot-5 point guard is an elite ball handler and passer who lives at the rim creating out of pick-and-rolls and transition, using his strong, 210-pound frame to finish through contact and getting to the free throw line prolifically. His feel for the game and flair in changing speeds and passing off a live dribble have obvious appeal combined with the competitive mindset he brings defensively and all-around basketball instincts. Collier's perimeter shooting is the biggest question NBA scouts have about his game, something we'll learn more about this season. He should have the keys to USC's offense and a huge platform to show he's worthy of consideration as the No. 1 pick."

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