5-star SG Isiah Harwell talks UNC, Cal, Houston recruitment

Isiah Harwell is the No. 6 player in the 2025 On3 Industry Ranking. The 6-foot-5 guard played on the NIBC at Wasatch Academy (UT) this season. He is also playing up in age on the Adidas 3SSB 17u Circuit, averaging 10.9 points and 2.4 assists per game.

“The game has slowed down for me this season,” Harwell told On3. “Being more comfortable and able to see the little things throughout the game.”

Harwell was one of 35 players invited to Colorado Springs to try out for the USA Basketball u16 team, where the five-star is a finalist for the roster. The final 12-man roster is set to compete in the FIBA Americas Championships in early June in Mexico.

“I’m just trying to be the best I can be here,” Harwell said. “Everyone here is really good, so you just have to put your head down and compete to show what you can do.”

Harwell has most recently added offers from Alabama, Villanova, Gonzaga, Kansas State, and Auburn; the sophomore now claims over 25. On3 caught up with Isiah Harwell at the USA Basketball u16 Training Camp to talk about his recruitment.

Harwell talks recruitment

“I’d say we’re hearing from Cal, Houston, and UNC the most right now,” Harwell said.

Cal: “So Coach Amorrow Morgan grew up with my dad, so he is a long-time best friend of my dad’s. So we were able to have a great conversation, and he wanted me to have a chance to go there. They like how I can play the one through three but also be versatile on defense.”

UNC: “This year, things didn’t go like they wanted, but they’re going to have a bounce-back year, as they always do. All the museums and the gyms, the history there, everything is just a cool experience. You can see that one of the greatest of all time (Michael Jordan) went there. That is the college he chose, so that speaks for itself.”

Houston: “They see me as one of the types of wings they get. You know, they just put wings into the league, so they just want me to go there, improve, and help me get to the league.”

“We’re hearing from Duke and Kentucky too; they could be close to offers,” Harwell said.

In Harwell’s words

Isiah Harwell is the son of former Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year Ron Harwell. The 6-foot-2 guard graduated from Idaho State in 1997. During his senior season, he was seventh in the Big Sky in scoring at 14.5 per game.

“Visits can start in August, and I haven’t thought about who I’ll visit yet,” Harwell said. “But, as I go through the process, I’m going to be looking closely at the morale of the team and how the coaches get along with the players. I’m versatile. I can play on or off the ball, so I don’t think play style will matter as much.”