Former Florida State forward Jonathan Isaac was selected 6th overall in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic.
Isaac becomes the second highest drafted player in FSU basketball history, just behind former big man Dave Cowens, who went fourth overall to the Boston Celtics in the 1970 draft.
Pre-draft discussion made it clear that he was not dropping out of the top 10, mainly due to his versatility and untapped potential as a one-and-done player. With the continuing NBA shift towards “tweener” prospects, Isaac’s mix of a post player’s frame with a guard’s handles and shooting stroke mean he could blossom into an all-around dominant player at the forward position. He joins a Magic squad that went 29-53 last year and ranked only 27th in points per game.
Isaac entered the Florida State basketball program last year as the No. 8 overall recruit in the nation. He spent little time becoming one of the star players for the team, combining with Dwayne Bacon to propel the Seminoles to a No. 6 ranking by the end of January. Florida State would finish 26-9 overall and make it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament before losing to Xavier. Isaac averaged 12 points per game, 7.8 rebounds per game and 1.5 blocks per game.
Most surprising was Isaac’s quick development as a rebounder and defensive star. He led all FSU players in total rebound percentage and defensive win shares despite only having the fifth highest usage rate on the team. He was second in offensive win shares and first in overall win shares as well.
Isaac becomes the 11th player drafted under Leonard Hamilton and the 43rd in program history. He is the fifth first-round selection of Hamilton’s tenure, with Malik Beasley in 2016 being the most recent. Isaac’s selection also marks the first time since the 1994 and 1995 NBA Drafts that FSU has had back-to-back first round picks.
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