Raptors’ interest in ISU’s Izaiah Brockington makes a ton of sense

The Toronto Raptors certainly have a type when adding backcourt players. Masai Ujiri and Nick Nurse have populated their roster with versatile defenders that can be coached up on the offensive end. Commitment to that philosophy of building a team could help Iowa State star Izaiah Brockington end up in Canada during the 2022 NBA Draft.

Brockington has certainly not had an easy or traditional path in college basketball. After starting at St. Bonaventure and sitting out a year following a transfer to Penn State, Brockington finally became a star with the Cyclones after winning Big 12 Newcomer of the Year.

Brockington averaged 16.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game in Ames this year, helping the Cyclones earn a No. 11 seed in the NCAA tournament and make it to the Sweet Sixteen. No wonder the Raptors are interested in bringing in the Cyclone star for a workout.

Brockington has already worked out with the Raptors, which could signify that Toronto is either going to draft him with the No. 33 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft or bring him as a priority undrafted free agent. Brockington’s style of play is precisely what Nurse likes to see.

The Toronto Raptors could use Iowa State’s Izaiah Brockington.

Brockington is comfortable defending both guard positions and generating turnovers, as his short-area quickness and robust 6-4 frame can make him a lethal stopper in the right system. A quality rebounder who posted multiple double-doubles as a 6-4 guard, Brockington could be lined up as a traditional small forward in smaller lineups.

On offense, Brockington is a throwback mid-range slasher. Able to get to the rack and make plays at the rim while sniping teams to death from 16 feet away, Brockington shouldn’t be viewed as an offensive detriment as a rookie. While not a great passer, Brockington brought the ball up the floor plenty in college.

While Brockington has made 34% of his 3-point attempts, the fact that he’s only taken 1.9 shots per game in his career shows that there is still a ton of ground for him to make up in this area. The fact that he is going t turn 23 during his rookie year might also limit his upside.

While Brockington is not projected by many to be a high second-round pick, he could be more productive than most imagine due to his seamless fit in Toronto’s culture and preferences. After earning rave reviews for his leadership with the Cyclones, there’s a ton to like about Brockington’s game and personality.