Tarkanian Classic: Four-star junior Isaiah Cottrell taking a big step
LAS VEGAS -- Through the early part of the high school season. four-star forward Isaiah Cottrell has been making a major impression.
A skilled and versatile big with athleticism and soft hands from Las Vegas (Nev.) Bishop Gorman, Cottrell has always shown great potential. This year, he's putting it into action and trying to put to rest any concerns about his ability to be consistent.
"I'm trying to step my game up a lot more than last year and last summer," Cottrell told Rivals.com. "I'm trying to keep improving."
"I can always be more consistent and more physical but I think at my age and the level that I'm playing at that I can be very physical. Getting stronger is helping a lot. I worked a lot in the off season and I've been maintaining my weight so far through the season."
IN HIS OWN WORDS
Cottrell took official visits to West Virginia and Rutgers as well as an unofficial to Texas Tech during the fall. He broke down those visits.
West Virginia: "It was an amazing experience. The fans are crazy, just the whole culture over there was nice. Meeting Bob Huggins was crazy. I see him on tv and to know that he wants me and interacting with him was crazy. I don't even know how to explain it."
Rutgers: "There's a little bit of a connection there with my trainer and I met the coaches and I had a little bit of a connection with them and a bond so I decided to go ahead and visit. It was fun, it was cool. The way they do things, not just for basketball the whole city and school in general it was nice."
Texas Tech: "It was a cool experience. I got to tour around a little bit and I got to meet all the coaches and a lot of the players. I was able to hang out with them a little bit and just put a little bit of a connection into place."
RIVALS' REACTION, WHAT'S NEXT?
Though he's taken some visits, Cottrell cautioned that he is still wide open and won't cut his list until at least after the high school season and that he'll still leave things pretty open. Not surprisingly, others have been trying to jump in.
"Kansas has been very active," said Cottrell. "Wake Forest has been pretty active too and a few others off the top of my head it's hard to remember them all."
Up next, Cottrell hopes to use the rules that allow five official visits to his advantage as he tires to sort it all out.
"I know there are a few that are being set like Washington and Florida," said Cottrell. "Kansas, possibly, I only have three more left this year so I want to make sure about visiting. I just want to make sure that I'm making the right decision."