NBA Draft profile: Get to know Kentucky’s Isaiah Briscoe

All about Isaiah Briscoe

College: Kentucky

Position: Guard

Measureables (at NBA Combine): 6’2¾” with shoes; 222 pounds; 6’9” wingspan; 8’3½” standing reach; 28” no-step vertical; 33.5” maximum vertical.

Hometown: Newark, N.J. (Roselle Catholic High School)

UK statistics: Averaged 12.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 2.5 turnovers per game as a sophomore. Shot 47.0 percent from the field, 28.8 percent from three-point range and 63.5 percent from the free-throw line.

Honors and superlatives: After sophomore season, named to Sports Illustrated’s All-Glue Team for his leadership and intangibles. … Named the Southeastern Conference’s player of the week on Jan. 2 after getting the third triple-double in program history with 19 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds at Mississippi. … Averaged 9.6 points and 3.1 assists per game as a freshman.

Before Kentucky: Born April 13, 1996, in Newark, N.J. ... Was named a USA Today All-USA first-team selection and a Parade Magazine All-American. ... He also participated in the McDonald’s All American Game and the Jordan Brand Classic. ... Helped Team USA to a gold medal at the 2014 FIBA Americas U18 Championship ... Also played for the USA at the 2015 Nike Hoop Summit. … Ranked the No. 9 overall player in his high school class by Rivals and 247Sports.com, the No. 13 overall pick by ESPN and the No. 15 overall player in the class by Scout. … Chose Kentucky over Arizona, Connecticut and St. John’s.

Briscoe on Twitter: @ZayBriscoe

NBA Draft rankings

While Briscoe is not projected to be among the 60 players drafted, here is where he ranks on NBA analysts’ overall lists:

DraftExpress (June 14): 71st

ESPN’s Chad Ford: 67th

NBADraft.net (June 20): 86th

Draft analysts on Briscoe

DraftExpress: “Briscoe has an exceptional wingspan to go with long and strong hands, wide shoulders and a big frame, all of which makes for an intriguing physical profile from a combo-guard. He has a strong first step, is particularly tough to stop when he gets a head of steam and changes gears and directions efficiently off the bounce. … There is no doubt that shooting remains the biggest weakness in Briscoe’s game.”

ESPN’s Chad Ford (on April 16): “It’s an uphill battle for him. I actually think he’d be much better off staying at Kentucky. Not necessarily because he’ll improve his draft stock, but because he’ll have a chance to come back and win a national championship, and get a great college degree, and play two years of really high-level basketball under John Calipari. … I think his most likely scenario is maybe a D-League player. And probably overseas is where the money will be. If that’s what he needs and wants, then that’s great. But I don’t think it’ll be the NBA.”

Coach Cal on Briscoe

▪  “Isaiah is a winner. Physically and mentally he’s a pit bull with skills with the ball. We averaged nearly 30 wins a season over the last two years and Isaiah played a big part in all of them. Isaiah defends, he rebounds and he creates shots for others. I am so proud of his improvement over his time here and am looking forward to seeing his continued growth at the next level.”

▪  “The thing that is driving me crazy is he’s a sophomore … So when you look at him, you think, ‘Well, here’s a veteran.’ No! … He’s like one of the young guys in this draft. But he played at Kentucky. He’s been through the wars. He knows how to win. He’s improving his shooting.”

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This story was originally published June 19, 2017 at 11:33 AM with the headline "NBA Draft profile: Get to know Kentucky’s Isaiah Briscoe."