The 2024 NBA Draft features a lot of guards at the top of the class, but there are some under-the-radar players who could end up being the most productive in a prospect pool that doesn’t feature a clear-cut star. One of those guards projected to go later in the first round is Isaiah Collier, who was a force in his lone season at USC.
Isaiah Collier Draft Profile
Collier was the engine of USC’s offense, averaging 16.3 points and 4.3 assists per game for the Trojans. He displayed great efficiency from the floor overall, mitigating some of his inconsistencies from behind the arc. USC was unable to make the NCAA tournament but Collier had some big showings late in the season which pushed his draft stock higher and likely led him to go pro early.
Strengths
The motor is insane. Collier has tremendous energy, and he displays it on both sides of the floor. He’s a great scorer when he attacks the basket and often finishes through defenders, which will help him at the next level. Collier’s defense is on point as well thanks to his physicality. He’s going to make some gambles and miss from time to time, but he largely gets it right.
Weaknesses
Collier’s shooting splits have been all over the place, especially from the perimeter. He goes on streaks where he seemingly can’t miss from deep but will follow that up with cold spells. That’s a tough sell for NBA teams, especially in an era where the three-point shot is so key. Another bad habit Collier can get into is going overboard with his aggression, which can make things clunky without good spacing. USC ran into some problems offensively when Collier tried to punch through the wall too many times, and that’s something he’ll have to reign in a bit at the NBA level.
Player comparison: Terry Rozier
There’s a bit of a size advantage Collier has on Rozier, but both are hard-nosed defenders. That’s going to be Collier’s calling card in the NBA to start his career in my opinion, and his point guard skills will have to be molded a bit to the roster around him.