Team Preview: ISA Basketball adds pieces to young team
They’re back for Year Two, and this year they’re hoping to make noise both locally and nationally. The International Sports Academy, a prep school based out of Andrews Osborne Academy in Willoughby, OH, was built around a lot of young…
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Continue ReadingThey’re back for Year Two, and this year they’re hoping to make noise both locally and nationally. The International Sports Academy, a prep school based out of Andrews Osborne Academy in Willoughby, OH, was built around a lot of young pieces in their inaugural season. This year, they return 4 of 5 starters, and added a few familiar names from Northeast Ohio.
Andy Barba and Meechie Johnson made the choice this summer to join ISA for the same reason: to prepare themselves for college basketball. Barba, a former Miami (OH) commit, recently chose to re-open his recruitment and reclassified to the class of 2021 to further his development, training year-round with the staff at ISA.
Johnson, already committed to playing at Ohio State in 2021, was intrigued by playing a national schedule against top competition when he decided to make the jump. Though Johnson will likely miss the entirety of the 2019-2020 season as he recovers from a torn ACL, he looks forward to the development in his game that will prepare him to make an immediate impact when he joins the Buckeyes.
Perhaps the most notable returning piece for ISA this year is Charles Bediako (2021), a long 6-11 center from Canada. Bediako looks to be the centerpiece of ISA’s offense this year. Bediako came to ISA as a very raw prospect, but the last year and a half has seen him grow leaps and bounds, working on his moves out of the post, his physicality fighting for position on the block, and even is shooting 3’s with some consistency now.
Bediako’s growth could be highly attributed to the competition he’s gone against, having standout showings against nationally ranked teams like Kennedy Catholic and Huntington Prep last season. After his High School season ended, Bediako had little time for rest before he started gearing up for the U19 FIBA World Cup with Team Canada and for the EYBL Circuit with UPLAY Canada.
Some of the nationally ranked bigs he has to look forward to playing against this upcoming season include Gethro Muscadin of Aspire Academy (KY), Javarzia Belton of Moravian Prep (NC), Zach Loveday of Huntington Prep (WV), and Treyton Thompson of La Lumiere (IN).
Also returning for ISA was another teammate of Bediako’s with Team Canada this summer in Keon Ambrose (2020). Ambrose is a 6-8 forward with an undying motor and does the majority of his damage playing in a high paced offense that results in transition points. Much like Bediako, Ambrose enjoyed an eventful summer that saw scholarship offers coming from every direction. He has narrowed down his options to Alabama, Arkansas, Dayton, NC State, and USC.
Other players that will play a pivotal role for ISA this year are returning starters Jaden Clayton (2022) and Kordell Charles (2021). Clayton, a participant of the U16 Americas Championship with Team Canada this summer, brings a certain level of pace and composure to the offense. A high level passer, Clayton often looks to set up his teammates before looking to create his own shot. Kordell Charles is a 6-8 wing that can create his own shot off the dribble, and will need to do just that this year for this group to win against higher competition.
Some other new pieces that will play a role for ISA this year are Colby Dillenbeck (2020) and Brad Colbert (2020). Dillenbeck is a 6-7 PF/C with a big frame, and will bang with just about anyone down low, never shying away from contact or a chance to get a blocked shot. The Texas native, who has been drawing recent DII interest, has also looked to extend his range more, providing another floor spacing option for ISA. Colbert brings another high energy option to the team, showing the ability to knock down shots all over the floor, and has a high work rate on defense. Don’t be surprised to see this Cincinnati product going against some high level wings in big games this year despite his smaller frame.
With another year under the belt for this team’s returning players, plus the new additions that were brought in this year, ISA is hoping to start making a name for themselves. They tip off their season the first weekend of November when they travel to The Bahamas to play Orangeville Prep, Ridley College Prep, and NBA Academy Latin America. You can also catch them in some notable showcase events throughout the year, including Flyin to the Hoop and the Cancer Research Classic.