FSU nabs five-star Isaac
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Florida State, which loaded up its No. 13 ranked recruiting class for 2015 with talented wings, added another for its 2016 class in IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla) five-star wing Jonathan Isaac on Monday.
"Coach Ham (FSU head coach Leonard Hamilton) called me two or three nights ago and we were just talking like any other time. He just kept talking and I was thinking to myself that this is the situation I want to be in," said Isaac. "So I just told him 'Coach, I'm coming'. He was excited. He said this was great and he was looking forward to getting to work."
Isaac made his decision barely thirty days after cutting his list to 12 schools on June 3.
"I knew for a little bit, just praying about it," said Isaac. "A lot of variables went into it. My mom really liked Florida State and I wanted to be close to home at the end of this whole thing and have her come watch me [play]."
What were some of those variables?
"Just the atmosphere, the college town, the people," said Isaac. "I think Coach Ham and his entire staff is special. The players they have now and the players that are coming in with me are special and I think we can do something really special."
Isaac rose 20 spots to No. 13 in the latest Rivals150 ranking, earning his fifth star and becoming the highest ranked player in Florida. Isaac is the third member of the Seminoles' 2016 recruiting class, joining Trent Forrest and C.J. Walker.
Florida State first became aware of Isaac when he was in the eight grade, long before his breakout performance at the 2014 Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions put the long-armed and lean small forward on the national radar. In addition to Hamilton, FSU assistant coach Dennis Gates spearheaded Isaac's recruitment.
"Coach Gates kind of knew I was coming a little bit just through Trent," said Isaac. "I've been talking to Trent for a little bit and I told Trent this is where I wanted to go. Coach Gates was excited."
In addition to committing to Florida State, Isaac said that he also informed the coaching staffs of the other 11 schools on his list that he was ending his recruitment.
"I talked to all of them," he said. "In my heart I knew this (Florida State) is where I wanted to go and I didn't want to waste other coaches' time, having them keep recruiting me and then going on visits to their campuses knowing where I wanted to go."
Though slight of build at 6-foot-8, 190 pounds, Isaac is very skilled and athletic. A true wing, he can score at all three levels, finish through contact and has deep range on his jump shot. If his shot isn't falling, Isaac can put it on the deck and get to the rim, score with a floater or pass to an open teammate when the help defender arrives.
IMG Academy broke the news via the school's Twitter account, then Isaac followed up with a social media post of his own, confirming that he had committed to Florida State.
"I feel great, like a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders," Isaac said. "I'm just excited, I'm pumped."
Russ Wood is a basketball recruiting analyst for Rivals.com and Inside the Gators. You can click here to follow him on Twitter.