ROSELLE, N.J. — After working out for Louisville coach Rick Pitino Monday at Roselle Catholic High School, Isaiah Briscoe now has a scholarship offer from the Cardinals and is planning a visit there.
“I think the workout went good, he offered while we were talking,” Briscoe told SNY.tv following the workout. “He said he was going to follow me in [the Nike EYBL stop in] Sacramento [next weekend]. The next is him seeing me in action”
Pitino is the second coach with an NCAA championship in the last two years to visit Roselle Catholic in the past two weeks. UConn coach Kevin Ollie, who is also recruiting Briscoe, spoke at a coaches’ clinic at the school April 11.
The 6-foot-3 Briscoe, ranked No. 19 in the Class of 2015 by ESPN.com, said he’s definitely considering Louisville now.
“After today, yes,” he said.
“Just the way he presented his program. He was very honest with me. Just a relationship that I think we can build in years to come, I think it would be great….I’m blessed. I’m thankful for the opportunity.”
He said he’s planning on visiting the school at some point.
“Yes, I don’t know when, though,” he said.
RC coach Dave Boff added: “I thought the meeting with Coach Pitino went very well. I think he thinks that there’s a style that fits Isaiah’s game and I think it’s a place he would feel comfortable playing that style. My thoughts to Isaiah are always, make sure it’s a style you want to play and make sure it’s a style that fits your game. And I think Louisville is that place.”
Briscoe said he’s also being recruited heavily by St. John’s, UConn, Rutgers and Seton Hall, as well as Arizona, Syracuse and others.
“St. John’s is recruiting me hard, Rutgers, a lot of the local schools are recruiting me,” Briscoe said.
As for St. John’s, Briscoe said, “There’s no better place to play than the Garden.”
The Johnnies will also have to go big in their 2015 recruiting class after guards like D’Angelo Harrison and Phil Greene graduate.
UConn is also in the mix and Briscoe likes how Ollie coaches his guards.
“The way Kevin Ollie lets his guards play, Shabazz [Napier] and [Ryan] Boatright and things like that,” he said. “And UConn just won a national championship. Just a great school.”
Briscoe visited UConn once before and said “it’s a great campus.”
Rutgers and and Seton Hall are both hoping to keep Briscoe home in New Jersey.
“Stay home, take care of my mom because my dad is working down in D.C., so that’s with Rutgers and Seton Hall, it would be great to stay home,” he said.
If he went to one of the Jersey schools, Briscoe might have to bring some help with him.
“Yes, I feel as though I will feel comfortable bringing at least one guy with me from my class just so I feel comfortable and that’s as far as any of the schools,” Briscoe said.
Briscoe looks more cut and is weighing 206 pounds at the moment.
“I’ve ben boxing, running miles and working on my cardio,” he said.
It’s possible Briscoe could wait until spring of 2015 to sign, but he’s playing it by ear.
“I’m just taking my time,” he said.
Photo: John Cerra
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