Prospect Spotlight: Isaac James (2020)
Take a look around the Baltimore landscape and you'll notice one thing about the frontcourt players. All have adjusted their games to become as versatile as possible. Whether it's at the small forward or power forward position, the expectations are for you to be able to guard multiple positions, score from all three levels and make an impact on the glass.
2020 Isaac James has developed into just that.
In terms of scoring, his shot from three still needs development for the collegiate level, but he has improved drastically on his perimeter skills over the past summer. The 6-foot-8 forward is preparing for his senior year at St. Frances, a powerhouse that has been recognized nationally since last season's success. He gives the Panthers the size and versatility needed for the national schedule they embark on in November.
James transferred to St. Frances last season and got minutes in the rotation late in the year. He made a strong impression during the historical Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament.
Becoming more versatile was a focus of James' this spring and summer with Team BBC.
"I feel like I improved a lot on my dribbling and my shooting," James said. "I'm working on being more of a wing and just being able to score from the post or the outside."
I recently saw James at the DMV Elite 80 playing among some of the best prospects in the area. He showcased his improved confidence with his ball handling. More than a handful of times, he grabbed the defensive rebound and led the break himself, finding open teammates for easy buckets.
There will be opportunity for James to do the same during this high school season, but he's also cognizant of the roster and which role he has to fill. James explained that playing with VCU commit Ace Baldwin makes the game easier and with his improved perimeter skill set, James can give the coaching staff more options with the offense to take advantage of mismatches.
James' individual goals for this season are simple: to stay in the starting lineup and stay in the gym. As a team, he believes that the Panthers can win a lot of games following last season's dominant 38-6 record that included sweeping the MIAA and BCL conference crowns.
James is hearing from a few schools on a consistent basis, but currently has no offers. With his size and skill set, I'd expect that to change sooner rather than later.
He gives programs a preview of what they can expect:
"They'll get a guy with a good work ethic. I'm going to ask a lot of questions. I'm a student of the game. I watch a ton of basketball. Just a kid that loves this game, really."
