USC’s Isaiah Mobley feels he’s a modern NBA fit in different roles…
Adam Grosbard (OC Register) — A year ago, USC opted to withdraw from the NBA draft for his junior season at USC. The power forward had gone through the process, and received a to-do list between then and the next summer to prove he was ready for his professional opportunity.
Show consistency, especially as a primary scorer for the Trojans. Show versatility. And show that his sudden surge as a 3-pointer shooter during USC’s Elite Eight run was not a fluke.
Now, with the NBA draft on Thursday, Mobley feels he has accomplished what was asked of him by scouts and talent evaluators.
“I can play a lot of roles and in the modern-day NBA,” Mobley said over the phone this week.
USC’s team success in 2022 did not reach the same heights as Mobley’s sophomore season. The Trojans won 26 games and were the second-to-last team in the country to lose a game, but were eliminated in the first round of the NCAA Tournament by Miami.
But Mobley took advantage of his opportunities, leading USC in scoring, rebounding and blocks, setting or matching career highs in all three categories. And he upped his 3-point attempts from 1.2 to 3.8 per game while making 35.2% of the attempts.
The ability for a big man to stretch the floor is critical for getting an opportunity in the NBA. Early in his career, it appeared like Mobley was limited to being a back-to-the-basket scorer after shooting 8-for-28 from 3-point range as a freshman.
But his 4-for-5 shooting performance against Kansas in the NCAA Tournament as a sophomore combined with his steady shooting as a junior put those concerns to bed.
So when it came time to sit down with his inner circle and make the NBA draft decision, Mobley was ready to hire an agent and make his departure from college official.
“I just felt confident with my abilities at the next level,” Mobley said. “I thought I could get a good opportunity at the pro level, and that’s the dream.”
Last year’s experience has helped Mobley feel more comfortable during his auditions. He knows what teams are looking for, and he knows what to expect from workouts.
He’s worked out for five or six teams, though he declined to name them.
“All of them have gone pretty well, drawn some teams’ interest,” Mobley said. “So can’t complain.”
Lately, he’s gotten the chance to enjoy some family time. His brother Evan — who beat Isaiah to the NBA by a season — turned 21 on Saturday, then they celebrated Father’s Day with their dad, Eric, a USC assistant, on Sunday.
For draft night, Mobley will be at a family friend’s house waiting for the phone to ring. But as he looks back on his USC career, he’s secure in the legacy he left at his alma mater.
“Mostly just the winning,” Mobley said when asked about what he’ll remember most. “We won from my freshman year all the way to my junior year. Got to the Elite Eight, had 27 wins. It was just super cool with all that, so mainly that.”
ocregister.com
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The CFB world has gone absolutely gaga over Arch Manning to TEXAS. “The most impactful football recruiting announcement the past decade came without warning” is how it’s been described by Adam Kramer of the College Football News. “It sent a tidal wave that stretched well beyond the world of football. He’s the most coveted recruit in recent memory. A blueprint is taking shape…” Everyone (well, every single ‘Horn fan) thinks TEXAS is back now. TEXAS is 70-55 over the last 10 years. USC is 76-47. TEXAS and USC still seem fatefully tied at the hip ever since unstoppable Vince Young… Read more »
I wonder what his NIL deal is?
I’ve read he doesn’t have one yet, for whatever that’s worth.
Here is an article on Wearesc.com from Rece Davis on the NIL for Manning.
https://www.on3.com/college/texas-longhorns/news/rece-davis-discusses-how-much-nil-factored-into-arch-manning-texas-commitment-longhorns-football-steve-sarkisian-college-gameday/
“Manning has an NIL Valuation of $3.1 million, ranks No. 3 in the On3 NIL 100 and No. 1 in the On3 High School Football NIL Rank.”
The differences between Manning and Nelson are zero. We got Nelson during all the rah rah about LR coming to USC. Nelson deserves a lot of ink also, he is going to be one of a kind and has the ability to rival Caleb Williams. What Nelson does better than Manning is run the ball. USC is really looking good at QB for the next 4 years at least.
Isaiah Mobley got picked #49 by the Cavaliers, for whom his brother Evan was the runnerup for Rookie of the Year honors this season. Mobley per Jay Bilas — “He’s a very good passer and a skilled big guy that played mostly on the perimeter. Can stretch it out and knock down a shot. The top scorer for USC this past year on a very good team. As he matures and gets in better physical condition. I think he can tighten up physically. He’s got ability.” OCR — “Mobley is the third USC big man to be selected in as… Read more »
How soon before dad joins the Cavs?
😂 😂
The currently woeful Lakers, still stuck with crybaby/no fit Russell Westbrook for now, just selected second-round 6-6 G Max Christie (19 year old one-and-doner from MICH ST) with the 35th pick. Wiry shooting guard. Solid defender. Value pick. Streaky. Still needs to develop. Went to Jimmy Garapolo’s HS.
They mortgaged it all for one championship year. Now they have some bad contracts. Lebron is still great, but for shorter stretches. AD is never healthy. Russ is a terrible shooter. But if both Lebron and AD are heathy they are one of the better teams. In the league. That’s not likely, but there is a little bit of hope.
I would say the chance of AD suddenly becoming a healthy player for any extended period of time is zero. But since he has the same agent as Lebron, and Lebron is obviously running the Lakers, I’m sure we’ll see the Lakers hobbling around next season with Westbrook shooting bricks and Davis and James hoping they can play together for more than 21 games. I wouldn’t want to be Jeanie Buss. There’s some really good teams in L.A. now, and the hapless Lakers, now led by unproven newbie Darvin Ham, look bolted to mediocrity at best. It’s amazing how quickly… Read more »
2023 Basketball Recruit visiting USC
https://twitter.com/wceua/status/1539814196321214464
More on Jacob McFarland
https://twitter.com/WCE_JS/status/1540083168430043136
Guys like that just totally dominate in High School. Just throw him the ball and he slams it in.
You are right, it is easy to dominate when you are 6’11” in high school but I was often told by college recruiters is that you can’t teach height and so Jacob will get a lot of offers.
“On came Marcus Allen running with the night”
Link to: Marcus running with the night
Thanks for posting. It was such an amazingly emotional, magically stupendous run. 17-Bob Trey 0 was the call. It was 1984.
“A symbolic play for football’s dysfunctional family, football’s evil empire.”
Will Eli and Peyton feel ok about this ????? …..and confirmed by Profootballtalk.NBCSports.com (PFT) >>>>>Arch Manning
@ArchManning
·
18m
Committed to the University of Texas. #HookEm
Good for Sark. This ought to give him some big-time breathing room, and the Longhorns some momentum with other recruits USC might be targeting heavily, like coveted 4-star edge Braylan Shelby. GA, OLE MISS and ALA lost the intense recruiting battle here. Now the only question is, will Arch stick with his commit to Austin? The latest Manning hotshot is headed to TEXAS for now. For those unfamiliar with Arch Manning’s world, he is a nephew of Eli and Peyton Manning, a grandson of Archie Manning and son of former Ole Miss wide receiver Cooper Manning. He is the QB… Read more »
If by say after his junior season he is a first or second team All-American and comes out for the draft (Especially if he is First team All-American ) will NFL teams have a Major Bidding War for that First pick in the draft ?
I am waiting to see who wins out and who transfers, then talk about the nfl.
Big question is, can Sark keep both on the roster? Ewers and Manning.
Great problem to have. USC loses QBs every year to other schools and still has one of the nation’s top three CFB QBs by all accounts.
Pete Carroll needs a QB badly to finish out his NFL HCing career in style. I’m not buying Drew Lock for a second. Ewers and Manning are too far off to help Pete, while former Seahawk Russell Wilson in Denver looks like a winning combo to me.
True, but another way of looking at it is more pressure on Sark. If he can’t get the Horns super competitive with Manning, then can he do it at all?
Seven Win Sark’s come a long way since drinking and pill-popping his way out of the USC job. More power to him.
Arch Manning is a huge victory for him, but I’ve never thought Sark would win championships at TEXAS. He’s a good QB coach who got rehabbed by Saban.
I’m still surprised Sark is the Longhorn coach. He must have a lot of pull with some CFB big-timers. He sold Pat Haden. Oops!
“…a good QB coach who got rehabbed by Saban.”
Well said. That’s pretty much it until he proves otherwise. Seven-win Sark until then.
No excuses for Sark going forward. He has all the best resources, and top recruits still believe in him. I wish him well. It depends on how long of a leash he gets. If he can’t make it in Texas with what he has to work with, then I believe he finishes his career as a top assistant somewhere else. I sincerely hope he is able to handle the pressure that comes with these expectations in a healthy way
I’d say TEXAS took a considerable gamble that Sark can rebuild their little empire. Urban Meyer turned them down. Despite Meyer’s disaster with the Jaguars, I’d still take him easily over Sark, who’s never won anywhere he’s been the HC.
I’d say Meyer still has a better chance of succeeding again in the college game than Sark does, even at TEXAS, though I like Gary Patterson’s move from TCU HC to be Sark’s special asst.
I agree. I didn’t know that Patterson took that position. Very interesting. I could see UT administration possibly sliding him on over to HC if Sark fails miserably
“If he can’t make it at Texas…”, then he may be a candidate to replace The Cat at GASO. 😉 The timing projects out about right.
Not at all jealous of Sark winning the favor of the “Manning Family” but be careful Sark. If things don’t go young Manning’s way, you might be very sorry you won all the baggage that goes with this recruitment. The expectations here could be far reaching. You have 80-plus other players on this team that may have a lot to react on how young Manning is treated by the coaching staff? First and foremost, UT better win a lot! Could be a no win situation otherwise.
Old saying, Winning takes care of a lot of problems.
I look at it slightly differently. If Sark (a horrible 5-7 last season) had lost this big battle for the Arch Manning, he would have been set back immeasurably in the eyes of TEXAS fans, who don’t think OHIO ST transfer Quinn Ewers will ever step up big enough.
Sark put all his eggs in the Manning basket. I’m sure he’s sleeping easier every night now. Just a huge victory for the rehabbed version of Sark.
I have a feeling Isaih Mobey will do well in the NBA as a role player. He has all the tools and a great attitude. Wish him nothing but the best. Fight On!
Texas volunteer asst Troy Tulowitzki is a candidate for the USC head coaching job After three seasons on the Forty Acres, the former Major League All-Star looks ready to run his own program. “The failed hire of Jason Gill from Loyola Marymount marked the fourth failed coaching hire by the historic USC program after winning 12 national titles, the most among any college baseball programs across all divisions. All 12 championships were won by the two head coaches who oversaw USC from 1951 to 2006. Since 2002, however, the Trojans haven’t even been to the College World Series. “So there isn’t a more… Read more »
From volunteer assistant to Head Coach? Not exactly the shoot for the moon proven winner hire I would expect from Bohn. College Baseball has to be the toughest sport to recruit talent. Bohn better find a guy that knows his way around. 3 years as a volunteer is not much of a resume’.
Marcus Allen’s statement to the Trojan family while speaking with Keely Eure at Salute to Troy — “Just Win Baby…”
Marcus’ 74-yd reverse field, up-the-middle TD as a Raider against the Redskins will always stand out as one of the Super Bowl’s most exciting plays ever.
One of the greatest plays in Super Bowl history! What amazed me about Marcus was that he was so smooth. Watching him live in the Coliseum for USC, he didn’t look like he was running that fast until he was into the secondary and gone. Great guy too!
USC has now taken the lead, in some eyes, for aggressive Red Oak (Texas) 2023 4-star S Warren Roberson (6-0, 180; yet another one of USC’s visitors last weekend) over ALA, ARK (also visited), OKS, FSU, SMU (30 mins up the street) and LSU, among many others (29 offers). Roberson — “I never talked to them (USC) when their coaches were at OU. They just came to my practice and said they liked me. Connection with the coaches and the brotherhood of the team are important to me, so we can keep it simple on the field. I’d like my… Read more »
SI is reporting that USC QB commit Malachi Nelson told Pete Thamel that he expects to have at least one million dollars in NIL deals signed while he is still in high school. He recently signed a NIL deal with h.wood Group which enabled him to buy himself a 2022 Mecedes AMG GLE 53 Couple so that he can drive himself to high school during his senior year.
California does allow high school students to start signing NIL deals.
A seventeen yo spends $80K on a car. Money well spent? A $40K car wouldn’t do? Hope he got plenty of money to also take care of his family, and start making some investments for the future.
According to the 2010 United States Census, Los Alamitos had a median household income of $80,449.
Just what you want to do, park a brand new $80K car in a high school student parking lot! 😂🎆🚙
Speaking of cars. Remember Reggie Bush and his black-on-black 1996 Chevy Impala SS, which he tricked out with new chrome rims that drew negative attention.
Here’s what Bush was driving back in 2019, a $4-500 K Lamborghini Aventador (690 HP)
John/Allen: Any truth to the rumor that Nelson may flip his commitment to Michigan?
rlee, See my post above. Do you think this kid is being paid $1 million in NIL “you earn it” because of his worth as a high school player? I doubt it. Of course, if he is dumb enough to think it is all about him and his talent, then there is a good chance he will flip to be a sure starter. If that happens, SC will be lucky to be rid of him.
I wonder if his NIL would become invalid if he flipped. But why would a SoCal kid want to go to Michigan in the first place. One day in December or January would be enough to get them back to CA. If he flips, which I doubt, it will open the biggest can of worms ever in ncaa football. Watch all the following flips as kids want to better their profit positions.
No shot unless he walks away from 1 mil plus in NIL money. It is 100% tied to his playing at USC.
My guess is his NIL is tied to his going to SC. It appears that we are seeing two totally different types of NIL models – the “pay for play” NIL and the “you earn it” NIL. The “you earn it” NIL is available only to kids playing for national brands and/or large media markets, with SC having the advantage of having both (and it is probably only national brand so situated). The majority of colleges will be in the “pay for play” NIL model, with Ohio State, Oregon, Texas A&M and Texas being the schools that come to mind.… Read more »
Any one know what is Steele’s percentage of being correct is?