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Will Isaac is a basketball player who has played for the University of Texas at Dallas, Round Rock High School, and the Orlando Magic. Isaac is known for his hard work and coachability, as well as his defensive skills. He suffered an ACL tear in 2021, causing him to miss an entire season. However, he has since expressed optimism about his recovery and is working towards returning to the court.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Will Isaac |
| Jersey Number | 31 |
| Position | Center |
| Games Played/Started | 24/24 |
| Points Per Game | 6.8 |
| Rebounds Per Game | 6.3 |
| Field Goal Percentage | 56.8% |
| High School | Round Rock High School, TX |
| College | University of Texas at Dallas |
| Self-Description | Hard worker, coachable, good-natured, team player, natural defender |
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What You'll Learn
Will Isaac's high school basketball career
Jonathan Judah Isaac, born on October 3, 1997, is an American professional basketball player. He started his high school career at Barron Collier High School in Naples, Florida, during his freshman and sophomore years. In his junior and senior years, he attended the International School of Broward in Hollywood, Florida. However, as a result of wanting to be reclassified as part of the high school class of 2016, Isaac also attended IMG Academy for what was considered to be a postgraduate year in 2016.
As a senior in 2016, he averaged 17.6 points per game and 10.0 rebounds per game while leading IMG Academy to a 21–10 overall record. In his high school career, he grew six inches from his freshman year to his senior year, transitioning from a combo guard to a combo forward. Isaac was also a member of the 2019 USA U16 National Team, which won the gold medal at the FIBA Americas U16 Championship in Belém, Brazil.
Isaac developed anxiety as a middle school student when he struggled to fit in as a black student among predominantly white classmates. His anxiety persisted through his college season and early NBA years. Despite these challenges, Isaac had a successful high school basketball career, showcasing his talent and potential on the court.
At the conclusion of his freshman season in college, he was named to the All-ACC Freshman Team of 2017. Isaac then announced his intention to enter the 2017 NBA draft, forgoing his final three years of collegiate eligibility. He was selected with the sixth overall pick by the Orlando Magic in the 2017 NBA draft, marking the beginning of his professional basketball journey.
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Will Isaac's college basketball career
Richard "Pop" Isaacs is an American college basketball player who currently plays for Creighton University. He was born and raised in California and grew up around basketball due to his father, Rick, coaching the Los Angeles-based club program "H Squad". Isaacs played his freshman season of high school basketball at Coronado High School in Las Vegas, Nevada, before moving to Wasatch Academy in Utah for his sophomore and junior seasons.
During his senior year at Coronado High, he averaged 23 points and five rebounds per game and was named the Southern Nevada Offensive Player of the Year. He also earned Tarkanian Classic First-Team and Torrey Pines First-Team honours. ESPN, Rivals, and 247Sports listed Isaacs as a four-star recruit. Before joining Creighton, Isaacs played for Texas Tech Red Raiders, where he averaged 15.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game during the 2023-24 season. He also played for the USA Basketball U16 team, winning a gold medal at the 2019 FIBA Americas U16 Championship in Brazil.
In his first season with Creighton, Isaacs averaged 16.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.9 assists in 31.8 minutes per game. He scored a season-high 27 points against the top-ranked Kansas Jayhawks, leading Creighton to a 76-63 upset victory. However, his 2024-25 season was cut short due to a hip injury that required surgery. Isaacs is expected to sit out the remainder of the season and focus on recovering for the next one.
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Will Isaac's NBA career
Jonathan Judah Isaac, born on October 3, 1997, in the Bronx, New York, is an American professional basketball player for the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Isaac had a successful high school basketball career, attending three different schools: Barron Collier High School in Naples, Florida; the International School of Broward in Hollywood, Florida; and IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, for a postgraduate year. During his senior year at IMG Academy, he averaged 17.6 points per game and 10 rebounds per game. Isaac was invited to play in the 2016 Jordan Brand Classic and Nike Hoop Summit All-Star games and was rated as a 5-star recruit.
Despite flirting with the idea of entering the 2016 NBA Draft, Isaac decided to attend college and play for the Florida State Seminoles. In his freshman season, he was named to the All-ACC Freshman Team of 2017 and made the ACC Freshman of the Week award for his performances from November 15–21, 2016. After one year of college basketball, Isaac entered the 2017 NBA Draft, where he was selected with the sixth overall pick by the Orlando Magic. Isaac's rookie year was challenging due to an ankle sprain that caused him to miss some time. He was assigned to the Lakeland Magic of the NBA G League for rehabilitation.
In his second year with the Orlando Magic, Isaac became a starter and posted career-high averages in points, rebounds, assists, and blocks per game. On February 12, 2019, he scored a career-high 20 points in a win against the New Orleans Pelicans. Isaac continued to improve in the 2019-20 season, setting a new career-high of 24 points against the Toronto Raptors. Unfortunately, his progress was halted by an injury against the Washington Wizards on January 1, 2020. Isaac has also dealt with season-ending knee injuries and an adductor injury that caused him to miss the entire 2021-22 season.
Isaac has earned endorsement deals with companies like Pepsi and Papa Johns and has a significant NBA career earnings total. He has also gained attention for his decision to stand during the national anthem in the NBA bubble while other players knelt, citing his religious beliefs and support for Black Lives Matter in a different light. Isaac has shared how his faith has helped him stand boldly for his beliefs in his career, even when facing backlash for his decisions.
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Will Isaac's strengths as a player
Jonathan Judah Isaac, born on October 3, 1997, is an American professional basketball player for the Orlando Magic of the NBA. Isaac's strengths as a player are evident from his early career. Standing at 6 feet and 10 inches tall, Isaac played college basketball for the Florida State Seminoles for one season, during which he was named to the All-ACC Freshman Team of 2017.
Isaac's strengths as a player are highlighted by his impressive physical attributes and his dedication to the sport. He is an agile and athletic player, with a strong competitive nature. Isaac's height, which increased by six inches during his high school career, transformed him from a combo guard to a powerful combo forward. This height, combined with his agility, makes him a formidable opponent.
Isaac's dedication to the game is evident from his decision to forgo his final three years of collegiate eligibility to enter the 2017 NBA draft, where he was selected sixth overall by the Orlando Magic. Isaac's commitment to his career and his willingness to take risks have paid off, as he has become an integral part of the Orlando Magic team.
Isaac's performance in games further showcases his strengths as a player. On October 28, 2019, he improved on his previous career-high in scoring by posting 24 points against the Toronto Raptors. Unfortunately, Isaac's 2019-2020 season was cut short due to a left knee injury, but he has since made a successful recovery and is expected to make a strong comeback.
Overall, Isaac's strengths as a basketball player lie in his physical attributes, competitive nature, and dedication to the sport. His agility, height, and athletic abilities make him a valuable asset to his team, and his performance in games showcases his potential for success in the NBA.
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Will Isaac's injury recovery
Jonathan Isaac, a forward for the Orlando Magic, has had a long journey of injury recovery. Isaac has been plagued by injuries throughout his NBA career, with his most notable being a torn ACL that caused him to miss two full seasons from August 2020 until January 2023. During his recovery from this injury, he suffered a minor right hamstring injury that required surgery, further delaying his return to the court.
Isaac's injuries have had a significant impact on his playing time and performance. In the 2022-23 season, he only managed to play in 11 games, with his playing time heavily restricted. Despite this, Isaac showed glimpses of his defensive prowess, with the Magic having the best defensive rating in the league with him on the court.
Isaac's recovery process has been challenging, and at times, it felt like it would never end. However, he remained dedicated to his rehabilitation, and in January 2023, there were positive signs of progress. He was assigned to the Lakeland Magic with the intention of playing in a game against the Westchester Knicks, which would mark his return to the court.
While Isaac's recovery was going well, the Magic organization and President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman were cautious about managing his comeback. They wanted to ensure he did not return too quickly and risk further injury. As a result, they did not put a timetable on his recovery and focused on gradually building his conditioning and comfort level with the team.
Isaac's injury history has had an impact on his role with the Magic. During his absence, the team revamped their frontcourt, and players like Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, and Wendell Carter Jr. established themselves in starting positions. As a result, Isaac's future with the Magic became uncertain, and there were questions about whether they would keep him as a reserve or waive him.
Despite the challenges and setbacks, Isaac remained positive throughout his recovery. In August 2022, he commented that "the light is at the end of the tunnel now" in reference to his ACL recovery. His dedication to his rehabilitation and his impact on the court when healthy were recognized by the Magic organization and President Jeff Weltman, who praised his "fortitude in dealing with adversity."
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Frequently asked questions
Will Isaac is a basketball player who plays for the University of Texas at Dallas.
Will Isaac plays as a center.
Will Isaac's jersey number is 31.
In the 2022-23 season, Isaac averaged 6.8 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, shooting 56.8% from the field.
Yes, Will Isaac considers himself a natural defender and is also a team player, hard worker, and coachable.
