One of the top incoming freshman prospects in the country for the 2029 class is already turning heads before even stepping onto a high school basketball court. Top-rated national 8th Grader Isaiah Rider, son of legendary NBA guard Isaiah Rider, has quickly emerged as a national name in grassroots basketball - boasting a historic middle school career and now performing at a high level on the Nike EYBL circuit this spring.
Rider, who is still undecided on which Arizona high school program he will attend this fall, is currently playing up with the 15U Arizona Unity Nike-sponsored club team, one of the premier Nike-sponsored club programs in the country. Competing against older competition on the Nike EYBL stage, Rider has been spectacular in both Session 1 and Session 2, earning national attention and already receiving numerous Division-I offers from major programs like Syracuse, Arizona State, Georgia Tech and Utah - all offers that he has received this week.
His game is beyond his years. Isaiah Rider has a superb handle and displays excellent court awareness. He possesses a smooth shooting stroke with deep range, and has the ability to score both off the dribble and from the standstill position on the court. His advanced skill-set allows him to create for himself and others, showing poise and vision that few players his age possess.
College coaches have already taken notice of the very young star.
Despite being just an eighth grader, Rider’s recruiting stock has skyrocketed. High-major Division I programs are already jockeying for position in his recruitment. Rider’s maturity, feel for the game, and offensive versatility make him one of the most exciting young prospects not only in Arizona, but nationally.
His father, Isaiah Rider Sr., was known for his scoring ability and athleticism during his (9) year NBA career, where he averaged 16.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game. That basketball pedigree seems to have been passed down, but Isaiah Jr. is forging his own path and doing it with a style that’s uniquely his. Rider’s upside is off the charts. As he enters high school this fall, wherever he lands, he will immediately transform that program into a must-watch team. His elite talent and early success suggest that he is destined to be one of the next great stars in Arizona basketball history.
The buzz around him is real—and just getting started.
