What Texas Tech fans can expect from 4-star commit Richard Isaacs Jr.
Richard Isaacs Jr. is a 6-foot-2, 180-pound senior point guard out of Coronado High School in Las Vegas. Isaacs is a four-star prospect in the Class of 2022 by On3. Isaacs has committed to Texas Tech and coach Mark Adams.
Why Richard Isaacs is special
Ability to Drive and Dish
Richard Isaacs usually goes up against guys taller than him. His refined ball-handling allows him to penetrate the defense. When this happens, the defense tends to collapse on him, giving his teammates a lane to cut and find his leading pass.
For the most part, Isaacs puts the ball in the perfect spots for his teammates to attack the rim or finish up and under the crashing defenders. Isaacs doesn’t panic when the cutter gets picked up but quickly finds an open man on the perimeter.
Up and Under Specialist
When the defense gives Richard Isaacs a drive to the lane, he will use his leaping ability to finish at the rim. When the taller defenders try to meet him at the edge, you can see a true master at work. He has a remarkable ability to hop step and use shot-fakes and pass-fakes to get his shot off. His patent up and under move gets the defender in the air and allows him to sneak under them for a smooth lay-up.
Pick and Roll
Richard Isaacs’ ability to get into the lane also comes into play when he uses it during the pick and roll. Getting around the screen and hitting the rolling big man or rising 3-point shooter is a big part of his game.
Whether it’s a lob, a perfectly placed bounce pass, or a low ball at his big’s ankles, he always finds them in the lane. If the defense doesn’t allow him to get it to his teammates, he can either back it out and try attacking his own and will sometimes pull up from mid-range when needed.
Isaacs NBA comparison
Richard Isaacs compares to Kendrick Nunn, an NBA point guard currently on the Los Angeles Lakers. Nunn’s game uses his speed as an advantage to get the first step on his defender and attack the rim. Nunn often is finishing up and under the taller defender or kicking it out to a teammate. Both guards are high-energy and confident players who utilize their small stature and High IQs.