Its been a very good year for 6’9” 2016 Isaiah Whaley. He burst onto the scene, won a state championship, and picked up multiple division one offers.
It was the 2014 North Carolina Top 80 that you first heard above Isaiah Whaley. Prior to that event, he was playing at Ashbrook High School in Gastonia, NC without much fanfare. It was quickly after his play in this event that Whaley’s star quickly rose. Following his performance in that NC Top 80 we wrote, “Pretty much unknown coming into the Top 80, Whaley leaves as a name to know. Whaley averaged 13.7 points 9.5 boards and 4.5 blocks per game for his Ashbrook High School team this year to earn his invite. After injuring his ankle early in the opening game, Whaley went on to play the final two. In those two game he teased us with what could be. Whaley, who has great length, finished the two games 4-6 from 3. His skill is raw, but his upside is vast. Whaley averaged 10 points 3 boards and a block on the day.”
That summer’s Phenom Summer Havoc Whaley had a steady stream of mid to high major schools watch him play. He picked up his first couple offers and really showed that he could reach that high ceiling he projected. After his play in the 2014 Phenom Summer Havoc, we wrote, “Whaley found a way to enforce his will on the game, on both ends of the floor. He finished the 16U Championship game with 30 points and 10 blocks. His offense came off an assortment of 18 footers, put backs, and even mixed in a couple of threes. It was said throughout the gym, that Whaley was the best natural rim protector in the event. At 6’9, the NC Top 80 alum has regional offers from Charlotte and Appalachian St coming in. During Havoc, Virginia Tech offered and we expect more ACC level offers to start coming his way soon.”
Fast forward to Whaley’s junior season, where he led his team to a North Carolina 3A western regional championship, and to a second place finish in the state. For his junior season, Whaley averaged 18 Points, 8.9 Boards, 4.6 Blocks, and 1.5 Steals per game. Whaley is aware of who he is as a player and what he would be at the next level, “I would say I’m a pass first forward, sometimes to a fault. I can stretch the defense with the three and put it on the floor to create a shot. I am athletic, so that helps me run the floor and rebound. I really like winning.”
With his upside, production, and love for winning Whaley has picked up a continuous stream of offers, “I currently have offers from Georgia, Virginia Tech, Appalachian State, East Carolina, Towson, Charlotte, Middle Tennessee State, and Western Carolina. I haven’t decided yet when I am going to take visits, but Georgia, Appalachian State, Charlotte and East Carolina are the schools sticking out the most.”
As we mentioned earlier Whaley has played in multiple Phenom Hoops events and is very thankful for the role we played in his recruitment and development, “Phenom Hoops really kick started my whole recruitment. They have helped me through my whole AAU career.”
Whaley continues to get better each time out on the floor. He has all of the tools that you cannot teach, with great length, athleticism, and timing. Now the consistent production is starting to come along. He has always had touch and the ability to stretch the floor, but he is rapidly developing his post-game. Even while he was younger and still figuring out his offensive game, Whaley has always been a high level rim protector.