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Isaac Okoro
Isaac Okoro (51175618087) (cropped).jpg
Okoro with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2021
No. 35 – Cleveland Cavaliers
Small forward / shooting guard
Personal information
Born (2001-01-26) January 26, 2001 (age 24)
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
High school McEachern
(Powder Springs, Georgia)
Listed height 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight 225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
College Auburn (2019–2020)
NBA Draft 2020 / Round: 1 / Pick: 5th overall
Selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers
Pro career 2020–present
League NBA
Career history
2020–present Cleveland Cavaliers
Career highlights and awards
  • NBA All-Rookie Second Team (2021)
  • Second-team All-SEC (2020)
  • SEC All-Freshman Team (2020)
  • SEC All-Defensive Team (2020)
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  United States
FIBA Under-17 World Cup
Gold 2018 Argentina Team

Isaac Nnamdi Okoro, born on January 26, 2001, is a talented American professional basketball player. He plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Isaac is known for playing as a small forward or shooting guard. He is 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighs 225 pounds.

Before joining the NBA, Okoro played college basketball for the Auburn Tigers. He was a top player in high school, helping his team win a state championship. After his first year in college, he was recognized as one of the best players in his conference.

Who is Isaac Okoro?

Isaac Okoro is a professional basketball player. He is known for his strong defense and athletic plays. He was picked by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2020 NBA Draft. This means he was one of the top young players chosen to join the NBA.

Growing Up and Starting Basketball

Isaac Okoro was born in Atlanta, Georgia. His parents, Godwin and Gloria, are from Nigeria. Isaac grew up in the Atlanta area. He started playing basketball in his local church league.

When he was about seven or eight years old, Isaac began training. His coach was Omar Cooper, whose son, Sharife Cooper, would later be Isaac's teammate. Isaac also played for a well-known amateur team called the A.O.T. Running Rebels.

High School Star

Isaac played high school basketball at McEachern High School in Powder Springs, Georgia. In his first year, he scored about 15 points and grabbed 8 rebounds per game. He helped his team win a regional title.

As a sophomore, Isaac averaged 22.5 points per game. His team won the regional championship again. He was named one of the best sophomores in the country. In his junior year, he continued to play well, averaging over 20 points per game.

Becoming a Top Recruit

In his senior year, Isaac was amazing. He averaged nearly 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 assists per game. He led McEachern High School to an undefeated season with 32 wins and no losses. This was the first time a team in Georgia's top division had done this since 1995.

His team also won the state championship for the first time. Isaac was named a co-MVP (Most Valuable Player) for the state. After high school, Isaac was considered one of the best young players in the country. Many colleges wanted him to play for them.

On July 25, 2018, Isaac decided to play college basketball for Auburn University. He was one of the highest-ranked players to ever commit to Auburn's basketball program.

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Isaac Okoro
SF
Powder Springs, GA McEachern (GA) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Jul 25, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:5/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 88
Overall recruiting rankings:   Rivals: 31  247Sports: 37  ESPN: 40
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

College Journey at Auburn

Isaac started his college career strong at Auburn. He scored 12 points in his very first game. In his second game, he scored 17 points. He was named the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Freshman of the Week early in the season.

He scored a season-high 23 points in a game against Vanderbilt. After his first college season, Isaac was named to the All-SEC Second Team. He was also on the SEC All-Freshman Team and the SEC All-Defensive Team. He averaged 12.9 points per game.

After just one year at Auburn, Isaac decided to enter the 2020 NBA draft. This meant he was ready to become a professional basketball player.

Joining the NBA: Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers chose Isaac Okoro as the fifth overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft. This was a huge moment for him. A few days later, he officially signed his contract with the Cavaliers.

In his first preseason game, Isaac scored the winning basket. He made a tough shot and a free throw to secure the win. On December 23, 2020, he made his official NBA debut. He started the game and scored 11 points.

On May 4, 2021, Isaac had his best scoring game yet. He scored 32 points in a game against the Phoenix Suns. On March 23, 2023, he hit a game-winning three-pointer against the Brooklyn Nets. This helped the Cavaliers win a close game.

In September 2024, Isaac signed a new contract with the Cavaliers. This shows he is an important part of their team for the future.

Playing for Team USA

Isaac Okoro has also played for his country. He was part of the United States men's national under-17 basketball team. They competed in the 2018 FIBA Under-17 Basketball World Cup in Argentina.

Isaac helped his team win the gold medal at this international tournament. He averaged 4.3 points and 1.6 steals per game during the competition.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Isaac Okoro para niños

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