No. 1 high school baller trying to recruit Bronny James to USC
Isaiah Collier won co-MVP at the McDonald's game, but he's already thinking about next season.
Collier is the top prospect in the 2023 high school class, who committed to USC in November. While Collier put up a game-high 25 points in the McDonald's All-American Game, a narrow 109-106 loss to the East team, he had bigger plans than an exhibition game.
His teammate on the West team was none other than Bronny James, the only player in the game who hasn't yet committed to a college or the G League next year. James showed off quite a shooting stroke, making five of his eight three-point attempts in the game.
In a recruitment effort that LeBron James would approve of, Collier gave a hard sell to Bronny in a pre-taped interview during the game.
"There’s only one person here uncommitted, and we know who that is," Collier said. "So we’re trying to make it happen."
The younger James hasn't made any decision yet, though he's reportedly narrowed his choices down to Oregon, USC and Ohio State. Collier thinks the Trojans are the obvious choice.
“I feel like he’s one of the best all-around players in the country," Collier told reporters at media day Monday. "I’m definitely trying to recruit him. I’m just telling him he can stay home, that’s all I’ve got say."
If he doesn't turn pro, James is choosing between one school where he currently lives in Los Angeles, one about 100 miles from where he used to live in Ohio and Oregon, the home of his father's lifetime business partner, Nike.
The two other highest-ranked high school players, Justin Edwards and DJ Wagner — the son of LeBron's one-time teammate Dajuan Wagner — are headed to Kentucky. If USC can land Bronny to pair with Collier, they could rival UK's team. At least as long as James wants to stay near home.
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