Isaiah Todd

Isaiah Todd (born October 17, 2001) is an American professional basketball player who is signed with the NBA G League. He was a consensus five-star recruit and one of the best power forwards in the 2020 class. Todd chose to forgo college basketball, after originally committing to Michigan, to join the G League's professional pathway. He finished his high school career at Word of God Christian Academy in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Isaiah Todd
Todd with Trinity Academy in November 2018
Personal information
Born (2001-10-17) October 17, 2001
Baltimore, Maryland
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight206 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school
PositionPower forward
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  United States
FIBA Americas Under-16 Championship
2017 ArgentinaTeam

Early life

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Todd was raised by his mother, Marlene Venable, and did not know his father well. His mother sold cocaine and heroin at age 12 and served over three years in prison when she was 16. She was released from prison about four years before Todd's birth. When Todd started playing basketball, at age seven, he stood five feet tall.[1][2] At that age, he met his first coach, Derrick Wilson, and began playing on recreational teams and on the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) circuit. Before eighth grade, Todd moved to Richmond, Virginia so that he could play year-round for his AAU program, Team Loaded.[1]

High school career

In his first two years of high school, Todd played basketball for John Marshall High School in Richmond. As a freshman, he averaged 12.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, leading his team to district and regional titles. Todd was considered one of the area's best prospects since Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Moses Malone.[3][4] As a sophomore, Todd averaged 18.6 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game, shooting 39 percent from three-point range, to help John Marshall win the Class 3 state championship.[5] He was recognized as the Class 3 State Player of the Year and earned first-team All-Metro honors.[6]

For his junior season, Todd transferred to Trinity Academy, a private Christian school in Raleigh, North Carolina, on a scholarship. He was drawn there by coach Bryan Burrell, who he had previously worked with. Moving to Raleigh also allowed him to work closely with his personal trainer, Drew Hanlen.[7][8] Todd led the team, which had been coming off two losing seasons, to a 21–12 record while averaging 28 points and 15 rebounds per game.[9] He was named USA Today All-USA North Carolina Player of the Year.[10] Todd transferred to another private Christian school in Raleigh, Word of God Christian Academy, for his final high school season, playing under Byron Williams.[11] As a senior, he was selected to play in the McDonald's All-American Game and the Jordan Brand Classic, but both games were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.[12]

Recruiting

Entering his sophomore season at John Marshall, Todd was ranked as the number one recruit in the 2020 class by ESPN.[13][14] On October 17, 2019, he committed to play college basketball for Michigan over offers from Kansas, Kentucky and North Carolina, among others. At the time, Todd was a consensus top-15 player in his class.[15] On April 14, 2020, he decommitted from Michigan and announced that he would forgo college basketball and pursue a professional career.[16]

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Isaiah Todd
PF		 Richmond, VA Word of God Christian Academy (NC) 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 206 lb (93 kg) Oct 17, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 94
Overall recruiting rankings:   Rivals: 14  247Sports: 27  ESPN: 14
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Michigan 2020 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  • "2020 Michigan Wolverines Recruiting Class". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  • "2020 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved May 16, 2020.

    Professional career

    On April 17, 2020, Todd signed a contract with the NBA G League for the 2020–21 season, bypassing college basketball.[17] He entered the G League's professional pathway, a one-year development program outside its traditional team structure that pays elite prospects.[18] Todd joined a select team, featuring both prospects and veterans, that plays a reduced schedule.[19] He was drawn to the G League because he wanted to "learn from pros and learn from NBA coaches and trainers."[20]

    National team career

    Todd won a gold medal with the United States at the 2017 FIBA Under-16 Americas Championship in Formosa, Argentina. He averaged 5.4 points and 5.2 rebounds per game in five games.[2]

    References
    1. Kolenich, Eric (March 9, 2018). "John Marshall's Isaiah Todd — the top-ranked high school basketball player in the country — was shaped by his mother and her past life of crime". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
    2. "Isaiah Todd". USA Basketball. December 4, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
    3. Jeter, Fred (December 16, 2016). "Tall men help John Marshall open season with wins". Richmond Free Press. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
    4. Kolenich, Eric (November 29, 2017). "John Marshall's Isaiah Todd and Trinity's Armando Bacot are rarities in high school basketball". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
    5. Kolenich, Eric (April 21, 2018). "John Marshall basketball player Isaiah Todd will transfer to North Carolina". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
    6. Kolenich, Eric (March 31, 2018). "The 2018 All-Metro boys basketball team". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
    7. Jeter, Fred (May 4, 2018). "John Marshall standout Isaiah Todd transferring". Richmond Free Press. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
    8. Kolenich, Eric (February 14, 2019). "In North Carolina, Isaiah Todd has transformed his team and maybe himself, too". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
    9. Pope IV, Jonas (July 15, 2019). "This UNC basketball target is the No. 1 player in NC. But will he move to Florida?". The News & Observer. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
    10. "2018-19 ALL-USA North Carolina Boys Basketball Team". USA Today High School Sports. April 16, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
    11. Jordan, Jason (August 1, 2019). "Chosen 25 forward Isaiah Todd will transfer to Word of God (N.C.) for senior season". USA Today High School Sports. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
    12. Jordan, Jason (March 12, 2019). "McDonald's All American Game Cancelled Amid COVID-19 Concerns". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
    13. Shaffer, Jonas (June 23, 2017). "Baltimore native rated ESPN's No. 1 hoops prospect in Class of 2020". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
    14. Biancardi, Paul (June 23, 2017). "Isaiah Todd tops early look at Class of 2020". ESPN. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
    15. Rapp, Timothy (October 17, 2019). "5-Star PF Isaiah Todd Commits to Michigan over Kansas, Kentucky, More". Bleacher Report. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
    16. Henschke, John. "Isaiah Todd decommits from Michigan to pursue overseas options". 247Sports. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
    17. "Five-Star Recruit Isaiah Todd Signs With NBA G League". NBA G League. April 17, 2020. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
    18. "Top high school prospect Jalen Green signs deal with NBA G League". National Basketball Association. April 16, 2020. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
    19. Haynes, Chris (April 16, 2020). "Why the nation's top prep player is opting for the G League". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
    20. Charania, Shams (April 17, 2020). "Isaiah Todd on his decision to join the G League over playing college basketball". The Athletic. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
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