Isaiah Whaley Explained

Isaiah Whaley
Position:Center
Height Ft:6
Height In:9
Weight Lb:225
League:Basketball Bundesliga
Team:MLP Academics Heidelberg
Number:1
Birth Date:26 March 1998
Birth Place:Gastonia, North Carolina, U.S.
High School:
College:UConn (2017–2022)
Draft Year:2022
Career Start:2022
Years1:2022–2023
Team1:Greensboro Swarm
Years2:2023
Team2:Astros de Jalisco
Years3:2023–present
Team3:MLP Academics Heidelberg
Highlights:

Isaiah Whaley (born March 26, 1998) is an American professional basketball player for the MLP Academics Heidelberg of the Basketball Bundesliga. He played college basketball for the UConn Huskies.

High school career

Whaley was ruled ineligible for his freshman season after transferring to Ashbrook High School in Gastonia, North Carolina.[1] As a junior, he averaged 17.5 points, 9.1 rebounds and 4.7 blocks per game, leading his team to the Class 3A state title game.[2] For his senior season, he moved to Evelyn Mack Academy in Charlotte, North Carolina. He played a postgraduate season at Mt. Zion Preparatory School in Baltimore, Maryland, averaging 21 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks per game.[3] A three-star recruit, Whaley committed to playing college basketball for UConn over offers from Providence, Seton Hall, Memphis and Georgia, among others.[4]

College career

As a freshman at UConn, Whaley averaged 2.6 points and 2.2 rebounds per game.[5] He suffered an ankle injury prior to his sophomore season and received limited playing time that year.[6] As a junior, Whaley averaged six points, five rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game.[7] He averaged eight points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game as a senior, earning Big East Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors. Whaley opted to return to UConn for a fifth year.[8] He was held out of a game against Michigan State on November 25, 2021, after fainting the previous day during a double-overtime win over Auburn.[9]

Whaley was named to the American Athletic Conference's All-Academic Team for the 2018–19 season.[10] He received his Bachelor's degree in Urban and Community Studies in May 2021 and pursued graduate studies during the 2021–22 academic year.[11]

Professional career

Greensboro Swarm (2022–2023)

Whaley signed with the Charlotte Hornets on June 24, 2022, on an Exhibit 10 contract. On October 6, 2022, he was waived by the Hornets.[12] On October 23, it was announced that he had been added to the training camp roster of the Greensboro Swarm. On November 4, 2022, he was named to the opening-night roster for the Swarm.[13]

Astros de Jalisco (2023–2023)

On April 25, 2023, Whaley signed with the Astros de Jalisco of the Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional and the Circuito de Baloncesto de la Costa del Pacífico (CIBACOPA).[14] He helped them win the 2023 CIBACOPA league title.[15]

MLP Academics Heidelberg (2023–2024)

Whaley played for the Academics in the 2023-2024 season. He was the team's starting center and posted per-game averages of 11.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.2 blocks, and 1.3 steals. He shot 33% from 3-point range, 57.3% on 2-point attempts, and 67.5% from the free throw line.[16]

In July 2024, Whaley joined the Dallas Mavericks for the 2024 NBA Summer League.[17]

Career statistics

College

|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2017–18| style="text-align:left;"| UConn| 30 || 12 || 13.8 || .558 || – || .679 || 2.2 || .3 || .4 || 1.0 || 2.6|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2018–19| style="text-align:left;"| UConn| 23 || 0 || 3.6 || .667 || – || .333 || 1.0 || .0 || .1 || .2 || .8|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2019–20| style="text-align:left;"| UConn| 30 || 6 || 18.8 || .540 || – || .733 || 5.0 || .6 || .6 || 1.5 || 6.0|-| style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21| style="text-align:left;"| UConn| 23 || 23 || 27.6 || .479 || .348 || .469 || 6.2 || 1.5 || 1.0 || 2.6 || 8.0|- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career| 106 || 41 || 16.0 || .518 || .348 || .628 || 3.6 || .6 || .5 || 1.3 || 4.3

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Wertz . Langston Jr. . Ashbrook’s Isaiah Whaley leading Green Wave to memorable season . . May 4, 2021 . March 6, 2015.
  2. Web site: Walker . Richard . Former Ashbrook standout Isaiah Whaley is ready for UConn . . May 4, 2021 . June 2, 2017.
  3. Web site: Amore . Dom . UConn Receives Signed Letter From Recruit Isaiah Whaley . . May 4, 2021 . May 18, 2017.
  4. Web site: Kidwai . Aman . 2017 F Isaiah Whaley Commits to UConn . . May 4, 2021 . May 11, 2017.
  5. Web site: Amore . Dom . Isaiah Whaley’s time finally arrives for UConn men . . May 5, 2021 . March 15, 2019.
  6. Web site: Amore . Dom . Isaiah Whaley bulking up to fight for meaningful minutes with UConn men . . May 5, 2021 . July 9, 2019.
  7. Web site: Carroll . Charlotte . UConn’s Isaiah Whaley had to hit rock bottom to turn into the player he could be . . May 5, 2021 . January 11, 2021.
  8. Web site: Senior Isaiah Whaley to return to UConn Huskies for another year . . . May 5, 2021 . April 6, 2021.
  9. News: Isaiah Whaley sits out for No. 22 UConn Huskies after fainting at Atlantis . November 25, 2021 . . . November 25, 2021.
  10. Web site: Numerous Huskies Named To American All-Academic Team . . 12 July 2019 . UConnHuskies.com . University of Connecticut . 13 April 2022.
  11. Web site: Isaiah Whaley . . UConnHuskies.com . University of Connecticut . 13 April 2022 . Graduate Student...Graduated in May, 2021, with a degree in Urban and Community Studies.
  12. Web site: Hornets Waive Isaiah Whaley. NBA.com. October 6, 2022. October 7, 2022.
  13. Web site: Greensboro Swarm Announce 2022-23 Opening Night Roster. oursportscentral.com. November 4, 2022. November 4, 2022.
  14. Web site: April 25, 2023 . Astros de Jalisco incorpora a Isaiah Whaley a su roster para la CIBACOPA . April 26, 2023 . Milenio.com . es.
  15. News: Astros de Jalisco derrota a Rayos de Hermosillo y es bicampeón de Cibacopa 2023. Telediario.mx. Vanessa. Flores. June 26, 2023. July 4, 2023. es.
  16. https://basketball.eurobasket.com/player/Isaiah-Whaley/429008
  17. https://www.nba.com/summer-league/2024/vegas/team/1610612742/mavericks