Recruiting Report: Isaiah Palermo (2019)
2019 forward Isaiah Palermo played a crucial role in Osceola’s Class 9A state title victory this season.
He showed up in the state championship with eight straight points late against a pesky Wekiva team that cut a big deficit to two points late in the fourth quarter. Palermo added 15 points and six rebounds in the title win.
For the season, the 6’5″, 190-pounder averaged 10 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game off the bench. He also posted a 3.3 GPA in the classroom.
Here’s what Palermo says he took from his sophomore campaign.
“I learned that there was going to be a lot of ups and downs, a lot of adversity, but when it happens just stay composed and stay focused,” Palermo told Prep Hoops Florida. “The part of my game that grew the most is my penetrating ability. MY coach always tells me to never settle, attack the basket, so we work on getting to the basket on as few dribbles as possible and finishing through contact and over defenders.”
He says it meant a lot to win as a sophomore because now he knows what it takes to get there. That feeling of winning it all is something he wants to do again.
Starting his basketball career at age 10, Palermo pointed to his ability to get to the rim, play in transition and finish as his biggest strengths. He wants to improve his footwork and guard skills this summer.
He’ll be playing AAU ball with Team CP25 for the second year. He says he’s focusing on getting better overall, learning from his coaches and being a consistent performer.
Palermo currently has offers from Northern Arizona and Middle Tennessee.
He’s also drawn interest from UF, FSU, UCF, Southern Mississippi, Middle Tennessee State, Clemson, Murray State, Wake Forest and Georgia Tech.
A move into the starting lineup will help Palermo become an even bigger factor next fall. He’s ready for the task ahead and with more seasoning this summer, he should grow leaps and bounds as an all-around player. Palermo is a high/mid-major Division-I talent with his versatility, athleticism and upside.