Isaiah Todd Contemplates College Choice, Will Stay In 2020 Class

Isaiah Todd Contemplates College Choice, Will Stay In 2020 Class

Isaiah Todd, the 6-foot-10 power forward from Trinity Academy, in Raleigh, North Carolina, is considering several schools in his recruitment.

Apr 7, 2019 by Adam Zagoria
Isaiah Todd Contemplates College Choice, Will Stay In 2020 Class

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — Isaiah Todd, the 6-foot-10 power forward from Trinity Academy, in Raleigh, North Carolina, is considering several schools in his recruitment and will remain in the Class of 2020 without reclassifying to 2019.

“No, we're not going to do 2019. He's going to stay in 2020,” his mother, Marlene, told FloHoops Saturday at the USA Basketball Junior National team mini-camp at the Jefferson Activity Center.

Because the NBA Draft rules won’t change to allow high school kids to jump from the preps to the pros until at least 2021 (or more likely 2022), Todd would need to spend at least a year on campus anyway. Todd is currently ranked as the No. 13 prospect in 2020, per 247Sports.com.

Meantime, Kentucky, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Oregon are in the mix, and the family will decide on some visits after the Final Four.

“All options are on the table, but I don’t think [reclassifying] is something that I’m going to do,” Todd said.

As for Kentucky, the Wildcats offered Todd in February and are coming strong. John Calipari texted him “maybe a couple days ago.”

“They just want me to come in and get better, they just want me to get better,” he said. “Come in and just follow their role and the guys that they put in the league.”

Kentucky needs frontcourt help in 2019 and beyond because Reid Travis graduates and P.J. Washington is likely headed to the NBA Draft. Kentucky did just add Bucknell graduate transfer Nate Sestina.

“That’s exactly what they said, they said they needed frontcourt help,” Todd said. “They want me to look at P.J.’s game, and that was pretty much it.”

The NBA legacy at Kentucky “is very appealing because that’s one of the things that I want to look at is if schools put guys in the NBA and prepare them for the next level.”

As for North Carolina, Todd has visited several times because he lives nearby in Raleigh.

“I go to a lot of games because they’re right around the corner,” he said.

Todd also likes the Carolina message.

“They’re just telling me that they’re really family-oriented and coach [Roy Williams] loves my character and I love his. We vibe really well.”

Oklahoma is also involved.

“They want me to come in and be the leader and be their guy and just take that program to the next level,” he said.

Oregon coach Tony Stubblefield “came to one of my games at the end of the season.”

“We talked briefly and he told me he thought it was best if I class up [to 2019], but he would take me either one, 2019 or 2020,” Todd said.  “And he just wants me to come in and take that program to the next level.”

As for a timetable, Todd will sit down with his family this summer and evaluate his options.

“We’re going to put all our options on the table this summer and just go through what I’m looking for,” he said.

Wherever he goes, he plans to make an impact.

“Wherever you want me to play at, that’s where I’ll play,” he said. “Most schools like me as a stretch four, be able to space out, shoot the three, use the ball screen from time to time. Also hang low, get rebounds.”

Don Showalter, the USA Basketball Junior National Team coach, said Todd’s work ethic has improved in recent years.

“Isaiah’s turned his game around 360 degrees since freshman year,” he said. “He has a much better attitude. When he was a freshman, he was pretty much entitled and he’s really made progress. I love the kid now.”


Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who runs ZAGSBLOG.com and contributes to The New York Times. Follow Adam on Twitter.