The top available post prospect and the top overall unsigned senior prospect currently still available in the state's 2019 Class is Bella Vista Prep's 7-foot-1, 220-pound senior post prospect Rick Issanza. Issanza is coming off a very productive senior season for the Grind Session-winning Bella Vista Prep. A season where Issanza developed as a player on and off the court. As a result, Issanza is getting recruiting by some serious high-major division-I programs. Issanza is now nearing his final decision on college for next fall.
Currently, Issanza is on a recruiting visit to the University of Oklahoma and is enjoying his time on his visit. I spoke with a member of Issanza's family on Tuesday evening, and he advised me that Rick is enjoying the recruiting visit very much and that the University of Okalahoma is in vry good shape, as Issanza will be making his final college decision very soon, within the coming days.
Issanza also recently took an official recruiting visit to UCONN, and really enjoyed his time there as well.
Currently, Issanza has offers on the table for himself from Texas Tech, Oklahoma, UCONN, Baylor, TCU and Denver. He will make his decision between these schools in the very near future.
Issanza's commitment and signing soon will be another big signing by the Bella Vista Prep program, which has had a superb run this high school season. After winning this year's Grind Session, the program has had numerous prospects sign Division-I scholarships. Issanza is just the next one in the group that will be playing high-major division-I basketball next college season.
Issanza is a rare find as a result of his tremendous size and length. He is a long and strong basketball post prospect that runs the floor and has a variety of offensive skills. He has unique size and agility, which allows him to make plays around the basket with a soft touch and with advanced footwork. He runs the floor extremely well, and is an excellent finisher in transition, where he gets to the rim and finishes above it.
Issanza played last spring (2018) and summer with Cal Supreme (CA) on the Nike EYBL circuit, and played very well - impressing many college programs that observed him throughout the club season. Very few post prospects in America possess Issanza's unique size and length, and his true potential for the future. He is a true game-changer on the defensive end of hte floor, and blocks and changes shots at a very high level, and he is definitely improving a great deal in that area. With continued hard work and development, Issanza will become an NBA prospect over time.
I will continue to follow his recruitment very closely this month, and bring you recruiting updates as he nears his big final decision.
Arizona Hoop Review Scouting Report: Issanza is a rare find as a result of his tremendous size and length. He is a long and strong basketball post prospect that runs the floor and has a variety of offensive skills. He has unique size and agility, which allows him to make plays around the basket with a soft touch and with advanced footwork. He has developed low-post skills and a good jump hook and drop-step on the baseline. He blocks or changes almost every shot in his area, and is also able to extend and alter shots outside of his area when he decides to. Issanza runs the floor extremely well, and is an excellent finisher in transition, where he gets to the rim and finishes above it. He is a good low-post scorer that spends his time in the post to make shot attempts, and also finds the open man on the floor when double-teamed. Also an active rebounder that rebounds outside of his area. Has unlimited potential and upside as a player. A sure-fire pro prospect for the future, and if he continues to work hard, the sky is the limit for him.
