There may not be a more important returning player in the ACCAC next season than Pima Community College's superb sophomore point guard Isaiah Hill. After a sensational freshman campaign that saw him earn both ACCAC Freshman of the Year and ACCAC Division-II Player of the Year honors, Hill had every opportunity to move on. Numerous college programs recruited him heavily, following one of the most productive freshman seasons in the country. Instead, Hill made a decision that immediately changes the outlook for the upcoming junior college season, as he is returning to Pima Community College for his sophomore year. That decision gives Head Coach Brian Peabody and the Aztecs one of the premier point guards in junior college basketball, and immediately makes Pima one of the favorites to compete for another conference championship and a potential national championship.
Hill was spectacular in every facet of the game as a freshman. He averaged 15.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game, while posting remarkable shooting percentages of 56.7% from the field, 50.4% from three-point range and 78.7% from the free-throw line. Those are eye-popping efficiency numbers for any player, but especially for a freshman point guard who carried such a significant offensive responsibility.
His ability to score at all three levels, create opportunities for teammates and make winning plays earned him recognition as not only the conference’s best freshman, but its best overall player. What makes Hill even more intriguing is that he has accomplished all of this despite being considered undersized by traditional Division-I recruiting standards. While some college coaches still place a premium on size at the point guard position, Hill continues to prove that elite production, leadership and efficiency often outweigh measurements.
Watching Hill play reminds me of someone I know very well. Years ago, I had the privilege of coaching NBA guard Isaiah Thomas for two seasons with my former Arizona Magic club basketball program. I saw firsthand the competitiveness, toughness, confidence and amazing offensive skillset that eventually helped Thomas become one of the nation’s top high school prospects before enjoying an outstanding college career and lengthy NBA career. Isaiah Hill reminds me of Isaiah Thomas in many ways. While Hill may not yet have the same national reputation or recruiting buzz that Thomas carried at a similar stage, his impact on the floor is remarkably similar. He possesses the same fearless mentality, exceptional playmaking ability and competitive drive that allows him to consistently outperform bigger opponents. More importantly, his production speaks for itself. He is also left-handed and can score off the dribble at a high level with a herky-jerky offensive attack.
Hill has already established himself as one of the elite junior college point guards in America, and his decision to return to Pima gives him another opportunity to elevate his game, while positioning himself for an even bigger recruitment. With another season under Coach Peabody’s strong guidance, Hill should enter the year as the ACCAC’s premier returning player and one of the top junior college prospects in the country.
If he continues producing at the level he displayed as a freshman, expect numerous Division-I programs from across the nation to make him a major recruiting priority throughout the season.
For now, Pima Community College is the biggest winner. The Aztecs return the conference’s most accomplished player, one of the country’s most efficient point guards, and a proven leader. Isaiah Hill’s freshman season was outstanding, but all signs point to an even bigger sophomore campaign that could elevate both his program and his future to another level.
