When Jim Larrañaga began recruiting Isaiah Wong, he noticed a thin guard getting recruited by another main packages like UConn and Illinois, however the New Jersey native shortly rose up the Miami Hurricanes’ recruiting board thanks largely to his persona.
“He was like 6-2, 162 pounds, but he could score,” Larrañaga stated. “In high school, he led his team in scoring. In AAU ball, he was a tremendous scorer, and we just felt he had a lot of potential. He’s a very good athlete and a hard worker. I love guys who really work hard, who are going to spend a lot of time in the gym, kind of like gym rats. And in Isaiah’s case, he was in the gym, working on his game and just kept getting better and better.”
Four years later, Wong leaves Miami as some of the adorned gamers in program historical past, departing UM to attempt his luck within the NBA draft.
“It was a tough decision, coming back or going to the NBA,” Wong stated. “But I feel like for me, I’ve got to follow my dreams and go to the NBA. At the end of the day, the NBA is the main dream.”
In the earlier two offseasons, Wong entered the draft whereas retaining his eligibility. But the four-year Miami standout, who introduced his plans to show professional on Monday, stated he employed WME Agency to characterize him and that there was “no chance” he returns to UM subsequent yr.
Wong leaves the Hurricanes after main the workforce to 2 of probably the most profitable seasons in program historical past. After a breakout sophomore yr in 2020-21, throughout which he scored a career-best 17.1 factors per recreation, he returned to Miami for the 2021-22 season and scored 15.3 factors per recreation as UM reached the Elite Eight for the primary time in program historical past.
After testing the NBA draft waters within the offseason, Wong returned once more for his fourth school season and averaged 16.2 factors, 4.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.4 steals, incomes ACC Player of the Year honors. The Hurricanes made the Final Four for the primary time ever however fell to eventual nationwide champion UConn.
Wong racked up 1,866 factors in his 4 seasons with the Hurricanes, which ranks fourth all-time in program historical past. He averaged 14.1 factors, 4.1 rebounds and a pair of.2 assists over his profession.
“He’s certainly one of the greatest basketball players of all time in University of Miami history,” Larrañaga stated. “I think if you asked me, it’s about his tremendous, consistent work ethic. I think he set a standard for everybody to emulate. He’s just a really hard-working guy. He’s never had a bad-attitude day or a bad work-ethic day. He’s always come. He’s kind of a quiet leader but he just leads by example, and I think he’s set the tone for us hopefully for many years to come.”
Wong is projected to be a possible second-round choose and at the moment ranks 71st in ESPN’s draft rankings. But Larrañaga stated the workforce that picks him might be getting a top quality, versatile participant.
“I think when the NBA scouts that I’ve talked to look at him, they really see a guy who’s a high-octane scorer who really scored at the college level very well,” “I do know in a few of his exercises in earlier years, they’ve inspired him to develop his vary, which he’s completed. So he’s now, I feel, an excellent three-point shooter.
“I think the thing he’ll need to do is be able to play both the point and the two and be able to guard both one and twos, and I think he’s going to be able to do that. … If he gets an opportunity to showcase his talents and what he can do, I think he’ll take advantage of that.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com