Journalist and basketball insider Frank Isola doesn’t cover a ton of college basketball. He works for ESPN, occasionally filling in on ‘Pardon the Interruption,’ and often serves as a studio analyst on Brooklyn Nets games for the YES Network.
Isola has covered sports for a long time, but you wouldn’t necessarily go to him first when it comes to college hoops recruiting news.
But Isola also hosts a morning radio show on Sirius XM’s NBA Radio alongside former Boston Celtics forward Brian Scalabrine, who just so happens to have a close relationship with No. 1 recruit Cooper Flagg.
That’s what makes Isola’s comment on the YES Network game broadcast during the Nets’ preseason game with the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night so interesting.
“I’m going to make a prediction,” Isola said after bringing up Flagg during the first quarter. “He’s going to play for Danny Hurley at UConn.”
“You heard it here first, folks,” replied play-by-play announcer Chris Shearn.
“If I’m wrong, don’t hold me to that,” Isola said. “Just something I’ve heard.”
Obviously, this is just conjecture at the moment, but Isola’s connection with Scalabrine gives his prediction a little bit more weight. Scalabrine has served as a mentor to Flagg, working out with him and inviting the Newport, Maine standout to join pickup games in Boston featuring current and former NBA players.
Scalabrine has also reportedly hosted Flagg at his house during AAU tournaments and keeps in touch with him regularly.
“Scal is a role model,” Flagg told the Lewiston Sun Journal in May 2022. “He’s someone I look up to because who wouldn’t? Just looking up to him, he gives me tips and helps me get better. I workout with him sometimes and he’s just a great role model.”
Flagg visited UConn in late September and will take an official visit to Duke from Oct. 20-22. He is expected to make his college decision shortly thereafter.
Story by Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant
