By JACOB POLACHECK
Isael Silva will announce his college decision on Tuesday, he tells ZAGSBLOG.
Silva, the 6-foot-3, 185-pound point guard from Carmichael (CA), told ZAGSBLOG earlier this month that Stanford, Arizona, Arkansas, Texas, and Gonzaga are the main schools involved. He broke down each school:
Stanford: “They’re essentially the ‘hometown school. They’ve just been telling me I can come in and help them change and enhance the culture, help bring that team back to what they used to be and help bring them to a national championship. In doing so, they can help me reach my dreams of making it to the NBA.”
Arizona: “Sean Miller and coach Justin Gainey are the two I talk to the most. Coach Miller’s message is about the pedigree of point guards they’ve had, his belief in me that I can do the same and he’d love to coach me because he was a point guard himself. He talks to me about what Nico Mannion was able to do this year and tries to encourage me that way.”
Arkansas :“[Eric Musselman] has been watching me for a while now since he used to be on the west coast. Last year, he came to some of my high school practices and offered me. He’s just always keeping me posted and updated. It’s still early with them, but they’re involved.”
Texas: “Shaka Smart and assistant coach Cody Hatt, I really fell in love with both of them. I love the school as well, but what really appealed to me about them was Shaka Smart. We just really clicked. We were talking basketball for hours. It’s really cool.”
Gonzaga: “Obviously, they win and they do so with really good guards,” he said. “I haven’t really talked to Mark Few much, but with their assistants, they praise me for my hard work. They see me fitting in there and helping them get to another national championship.”
Silva took his first and only official visit thus far to Stanford in the fall (Oct. 18-20).
“It’s really cool to be inside a program when you’re on an official visit,” Silva said. “Also, I got to be with the coaches and talk to the players to see how they like it, seeing how college practices are and the environment. Being close to home made the trip easy and I had a lot of fun with my parents and family.”
Texas was Silva’s most recent unofficial visit from March 7-8. He was in attendance for the Longhorns 81-59 loss to Oklahoma State on March 7
“They were on a really good winning streak, but when I was there they took a tough loss to Oklahoma State,” Silva said. “I was just really impressed with the culture that Shaka provides. Shaka and his assistants just love basketball. I could just see their passion and that’s something I share with them.”
Silva said he’s looking for a school that lets him be himself in a family environment.
“Just a place where I’m going to feel at home and they’re going to value who I am as a player and what I can do,” Silva said. “I’m looking for a school that’s confident in me and gives me confidence, letting me play with passion and flair.”
Silva broke down his game for ZAGSBLOG:
“I can create for myself and create for others in the pick-and-roll and transition,” Silva said. “I’m a creator.”
Photo: JW Media
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