4-star Isaiah Miranda talks NBA possibilities and future visits

Isaiah Miranda is the No. 16 player in the 2023 On3 150. The 7-foot-1 center is now the highest-ranked, uncommitted player. The four-star transferred to Los Angeles (CA) So Cal Academy for his final high school season.

“I’ve grown the most in maturing, like the mental side of basketball,” Miranda told On3. “Coach Cheaney has taught me more than just basketball moves or how the game is played. He’s been teaching me how to go about certain situations if I’m not playing well. He’s been giving me advice along the whole road. I’ve been maturing into the pro that I’m trying to be.”

Miranda is a late bloomer, growing more than five inches since entering high school. With that growth, the native of Pawtucket, Rhode Island’s game has also developed.

“Positionless, really, that’s the best way to describe my game,” Miranda said. “Just a positionless player that’s ready to play hard no matter what. I feel like before, I had a lot of areas I was scared to grow in, so I wouldn’t do certain things, but I feel like now, I’m comfortable experimenting with myself.”

On3 caught up with Isaiah Miranda at the recent National Prep Showcase to talk about his recruitment and visits.

“I took my most recent visit to Louisville,” Miranda said. “I took three early visits too, to USC, UCLA, and Georgetown.”

Miranda on visits

Louisville: “I learned that they really like to mold their play style toward the players that they bring in every year. They don’t play the same style every year. They adjust it depending on their roster. So I really enjoyed that, and I really like their coaching staff. The coaching staff likes how I’m diverse. Diverse and positionless. How they can play me in so many different spots in their offense and on defense.”

Georgetown: “They play through their bigs a lot. The way they shape and form their defense is to get their bigs a lot of looks on defense so they get blocked shots and always will be in the mix.”

Southern California: “USC, their offense goes a lot through their bigs. It’s not just their defense but their offense too. If a big catches a ball, they can push it up.”

UCLA: “Just the way the Pac-12 plays, just letting their bigs freely play down the court.”

Miranda talks future visits

With only taking one official visit since September 1, Miranda has four available official visits to take between now and the late signing period.

Rhode Island: “That’s my hometown, so I gotta show them, love. They’ve been showing me love, since I started playing. It’s been one of my dreams to play for my hometown. The new coaches at URI, I haven’t really been talking to them, but I talk to the players, and they really make me feel at home.”

Texas: “I really like my relationship with them. They had Kevin Durant, and they give me that comparison a lot and say how they can form and mold me to be kind of like him on offense and really expand my game.”

Oregon: “Oregon likes the way I run up and down the court. They like to play up and down really fast. That’s how I like to play with my teams.”

Miranda’s decision not to sign early

“I feel like I’m learning a lot, now more than ever,” Miranda said. “So I feel like keeping my options open and not really rushing anything and enjoying everything about the process is just really gonna help me down the road.”

Pro route is an option

Isaiah Miranda is in his fifth year of high school. He has submitted his papers for graduation, so he will be one year removed from high school graduation, making him eligible for the 2023 NBA Draft. NBA personnel are already paying attention to Miranda.

“I’m just looking at every option,” Miranda said. “I’m really letting it sink in with me before I make my next move. So I feel like that option’s still on the table, but so is college. I’m looking for a place that is going to develop me to be a pro and stay in the league. There are a lot of guys that get to the NBA, but it’s really about how long you can stay. There are older guys in there who come for your spot every day.”

Scouting report

The tools pop immediately for Isaiah Miranda. At 7-0, 7-1, the center moves in a way most his size are unable. He is very fluid with a lot of explosive pop. Miranda can shoot the ball with deep range, and he has great hand-eye coordination with touch. His shot selection can be very erratic at times. He will have to learn the finer nuances of the game, like angles and footwork (he is oftentimes out of position to make a play). Regarding raw upside, there might not be a player with more in this class. Now it is a matter of polishing it and putting it all together.