We’ve seen a lot of players come through our doors over the years, varying in appearance, skill level, and everything in between. We decided to put forth a “Getting to Know” series on some players who have attended events over the past few years but still remain on the lesser-known side of things. Each of these prospects embody being a student-athlete and getting it done in the classroom as well as on the basketball court, and today’s edition will take a closer look at Isaiah Tate of King’s Mountain.
We’ve seen Tate in every possible setting, including our NC Phenom 150 Camp prior to the season, where we stated, “Moving onto a player that was easily among the most impressive perimeter shooters on display, Isaiah Tate. He’s a smart, crafty combo guard with a tight handle, great vision, and the ability to pile on points from anywhere on the floor. Tate creates extremely well for himself and others, but can also spot-up at a high level and defend the point of attack pretty effectively for his size. Next in his development process is working on his awareness as an off-ball defender, as it would allow him to force more turnovers by jumping into passing lanes. Coach Lindell on Tate: “Isaiah has tremendous potential as a combo guard. He has exceptional athletic skills but needs to stay on “go” all the time during the game. He’s a good shooter that needs to differentiate between good and bad shots. He has good handles and is a strong defender along the perimeter. Isaiah is a willing passer that sees the floor well and has a good attitude.” Tate enjoyed a quality showing at camp and should be poised for an extremely productive season as a primary leader for Kings Mountain.”
That previous line held very true, as Tate was one of only two sophomores on the roster and still led the team on a nightly basis. He’s such a smooth, crafty guard prospect with incredible shot-creation skills. Tate can operate effectively cut or spot-up, but offers a reliable balance between playmaking and three-level scoring with the ball in his hands. His IQ, vision, footwork, and ball-handling are all worth noting, as the combination allows him to overwhelm opposing guards quite frequently. Tate has proven to be a very productive player, regardless of size, and has the ability to succeed at a variety of programs at the next level. With USC-Upstate being the first program involved, it’ll be exciting to watch his offer list grow over the next few seasons.