By JACOB POLACHECK
Richard “Pop” Isaacs Jr. has always been a basketball junkie.
Growing up in northeast Los Angeles, Isaacs gravitated towards the game earning the nickname “Pop Pop” for his time constantly bouncing a nerf ball in his mother’s kitchen.
“The ball has always been in my hands ever since I was a baby,” Isaacs said. “It’s natural.”
And by the time Isaacs reached grade school, it was becoming clearer and clearer the future he had playing the sport. His father, Rick, can remember taking him to Jim Gilliam Park just north of Inglewood, with Pop training alongside Harold Jones, a local coach with a basketball resume that fills the page.
“Because of his quickness and balance, I think we all thought that he had a chance to be a really good player,” Rick said. “Even though he was really small at the time.”
Growing up in the basketball filled landscape of southern California, Pop would compete with other top youth prospects at the time, such as Kijani Wright and Darius Carr.
“I think those times probably built the groundwork for him,” Rick said.
When Isaacs began his high school career at Coronado High School in Henderson, Nevada, he was already on the radar of many scouts and coaches alike, but it wasn’t until his next season that Pop started to shine in the national spotlight.
Ahead of his sophomore year, Isaacs made the move to Wasatch Academy in Mount Pleasant, Utah, immediately becoming a crucial part of a national contending team under head coach Dave Evans.
Evans, who is now the head coach at Real Salt Lake Academy in Salt Lake County, Utah, got his first glance at Isaacs in the seventh grade and continued the relationship over the following years.
In perhaps his most eye-opening performance of the season, Isaacs led No. 4-ranked Wasatch to a 94-82 win over Hamilton Heights (TN) Christian Academy in the Kevin Durant MLK Classic in Springfield, Virginia.
Isaacs was spectacular, finishing with 30 points, six rebounds, six assists and three steals and going on to be named the game’s most valuable player.
“He was just incredible,” Evans said. “That’s the only way to put it.”
Wasatch would rise to No. 2 nationally, but was unable to compete with the Cade Cunningham-led Montverde (FL) Academy as COVID put an abrupt end to the 2020 season.
“Everybody was just so focused on Montverde, Montverde, Montverde my sophomore year and rightfully so,” Isaacs said. “We were the No. 2 team in the country that year so that was something to be proud of.”
And after just one year at Wasatch, Evans was already sold on the crafty guard’s ability to perform among the nation’s best.
“I thought after his sophomore year, he was already ready to go to college,” he said.
However, the success of the duo was short-lived, as Evans moved on to Real Salt Lake and Isaacs began playing under rookie head coach Paul Peterson.
“I thought Dave Evans may have been the best high school coach in America,” Rick said “They hired another gentleman, who is an outstanding guy, outstanding trainer, but he was really put in a tough spot.”
This fall, Isaacs’ high school career comes full circle, returning to Coronado after a two-year stint at prep school.
And when it comes to his future, his recruitment nears its end with each passing day, recently cutting his list to a final four of Oklahoma State, Arizona State, Texas Tech and UNLV.
“I’m going to take visits to each of the schools again, so it should be fun,” he said. “After these visits, I have a feeling I should know what I want to do.”
In his decision, Isaacs will be evaluating his relationship with the head coach, the roster makeup and the program’s playing style.
“Those are the biggest three things that are going to come into making my decision,” he said before breaking down each option.
Oklahoma State: “I just love coach Mike Boynton. He’s a genuine person. He really cares and everybody has obviously seen what they did with Cade (Cunningham) last year. Coach really, truly cares about his players and I could see myself playing for him for sure.”
Arizona State: “It was an amazing visit. I love coach (Bobby) Hurley. They forget how good he was at basketball when he played, especially at Duke back in those days. The feel of playing for him is amazing and I have a great relationship with that staff. And just the freedom he gives his players, it was an amazing visit and I love the vibes there.”
He will also visit Texas Tech from September 3-5 with a trip to UNLV shortly thereafter.
Texas Tech: “I don’t really have any expectations for the visit, honestly. I just want to have a good time, get to know everybody, get to know the program. I love the coaching staff. They’re great people. I have a great relationship with coach (Sean) Sutton. Going to Texas Tech will be a great experience because of the new staff they have. It should be fun.”
UNLV: “I took an unofficial to UNLV because I live right here in Vegas. UNLV is a great school. I have a great relationship with that staff, coach (Kevin) Kruger, (Carlin) Hartman and coach (Brandon) Chappell, they’re great people. I’ve had a relationship with coach Kruger since my freshman year, so just being a hometown kid, it would be cool to stay home for sure.”
With his final high school season on the horizon, Isaacs stands at 6-foot-2, 180-pounds, ranking as the No. 32 overall prospect in the class of 2022 and dazzling opponents with a high basketball IQ, a smooth handle and a respectable jump shot. Yet, it’s not the rankings that motivate him.
“I just want to be able to take care of my family,” he said. “That’s the biggest thing for me, just being able to take care of them one day.”
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