SARASOTA, Fla. -- The brainchild of Nike Team Florida program director Tom Topping, The Workout is now in year nine of giving some of the Sunshine State's a stage to shine. Five-star junior big man Udoka Azubuike was on hand with the likes of four-star Marquette bound guard Haanif Cheatham and senior Rivals150 combo forward Keith Stone. But on the day's first event it was junior Rivals150 small forward Jonathan Isaac who had a breakout performance.
Isaac on the rise 2016
The upside is that Jonathan Isaac was included in the post summer Rivals150 for the class of 2016. The downside is that at No. 144 nationally, the 6-foot-8 small forward from Hollywood (Fla.) International School of Broward entered the rankings too low - that is, if the way he played on Saturday is an indication of what to expect from him down the road.
A legitimate wing with outstanding size, Isaac is a highly skilled and fluid three man who puts the ball on the floor, buries jumpers and looks to have big upside. He is still relatively slight of build, but his length and ability to finish with floaters or either hand near the rim make him just as much of a threat off the drive as he is with the jump shot.
This fall, Isaac has started to add scholarship offers as schools find out about him.
"I have three offers right now," Isaac told Rivals.com. "Arkansas State, UCF and Mississippi State are the schools that have offered."
If Isaac continues to perform at a high level, he is headed for four-star status and several more offers. In an age where some prospects get nervous about offers during their junior seasons, he knows that it is just a matter of time before he has a brighter spotlight shining on him.
"People are really just starting to find out about me," said Isaac. "I'm being recruited as a two and a three and feel good about that."
Major attention for Azubuike
The highest ranked player at The Workout on Saturday, No. 14 in the class of 2016 Udoka Azubuike, was also the biggest player in attendance. His listed height of 6-foot-11 is probably a bit generous, but his long arms, powerful playing style and intensity allow him to play like somebody that size.
Consider this: Azubuike just turned 15 years old two weeks ago, which means he is two years young for a high school junior. Yet he has the build of a player that is at least two years old for his class and he plays with the physicality of a college veteran.
A true power player around the rim, Azubuike embraces that his strength is playing near the rim and trying to dunk everything possible. He has outstanding hands and after missing the end of the summer doing to shin and ankle problems, he showed surprising endurance and energy throughout the course of a long day of basketball.
The No. 127 player in the class of 2015, Keith Stone is a guy that high major programs are going to continue to take a long look at. Billed as a combo forward, the 6-foot-7 product of Deerfield Beach (Fla.) Zion Lutheran looked more like a true small forward on Saturday.
A good shooter who has a balanced game, Stone can drive for towering dunks off of one foot or pull-up from mid range. He likes turnaround jumpers off of either jumper and because of his size can play as a stretch four man.
Earlier in the fall Stone took a visit to Florida that had been reported as an official visit. However, it turns out that the visit was unofficial and he and the Gators are still working to set up an official visit date. Taking things a step further, Stone said that he favors the Gators but they are in a scholarship crunch so he is keeping his options open and will wait until the spring to make a decision.
In the meantime, he said that South Carolina, West Virginia and Alabama had ramped up their interest.
"It's been good," said Stone of his recruitment. "I've been having a lot of fun getting to know these coaches."
Young for the class of 2015, Stone won't turn 18 until after he arrives on a college campus. He embraces his late bloomer status.
"I'm a late bloomer," said Stone. "I've just really started getting noticed and I'm improving fast."