Basketball scouting & NBA salaries
Isaiah Sykes
SG - 6'6, 220lbs - 32 years old - 0 years of NBA experience
Free agent - Signed with Al Kahraba in Iraq
- Birthdate: 12/02/1991
- Drafted (NBA): Undrafted, 2014
- Pre-draft team: Central Florida
- Country: USA
- Hand: Left
- Agent:
Stats
Transactions
| Date | League | Transaction |
|---|---|---|
| 11th August, 2014 | Italy | Signed a one year contract with La Fortezza Recanati. |
| 20th September, 2015 | Israel | Signed a one year contract with Maccabi Hod Hasharon. |
| 1st November, 2016 | Israel | Signed a one month contract with Hapoel Afula. |
| 19th January, 2017 | Germany | Signed for the remainder of the season with Hanau Heibesen. |
| 1st October, 2017 | Iraq | Signed a one year contract with Al Kahraba. |
Career Moves
| 2010 - 2014 | Central Florida (NCAA) |
| August 2014 - June 2015 | Recanati (Italy, A2 Silver) |
| September 2015 - June 2016 | Maccabi Hod Hasharon (Israel, National League) |
| November 2016 - December 2016 | Hapoel Afula (Israel, National League) |
| January 2017 - June 2017 | Hanau (Germany, ProA) |
| October 201 7- present | Al Kahraba (Iraq) |
Articles about Isaiah Sykes
June 17, 2014
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| Sykes keeps his dribble low, so low that is is routinely out of shot. |
Isaiah Sykes, Central Florida, Senior, 6'6 220lbs
2013/14 stats: 31.9 mpg, 17.2 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 3.5 apg, 1.7 spg, 0.2 bpg, 2.7 fpg, 3.7 TOpg, 47.5% FG, 37.5% 3PT, 54.0% FT
2013/14 stats: 31.9 mpg, 17.2 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 3.5 apg, 1.7 spg, 0.2 bpg, 2.7 fpg, 3.7 TOpg, 47.5% FG, 37.5% 3PT, 54.0% FT
Sykes is a quirky player who left UCF in pretty much every category, with one big drawback. A ball dominant lefty shooting guard, Sykes's game is hindered by a lack of jumpshot. He hits a few mid range shots, but takes much more than a few, and lacks three point range. Given his established lack of jumpshot and proven driving game, he is always given the jumpshot if he wants it, and he almost always takes it, with a long and slow release that doesn't even disguise it. This does not work out. And it follows logically that he is also a poor foul shooter.
Sykes makes up for it elsewhere on offense by doing it all. He is always looking for the drive, and gets there with craft rather than explosion. He has a very solid handle of the ball for an off guard, can drive both ways (albeit always finishing left), shoots bankers, and makes enough contested ones from midrange. Sykes was asked to be UCF's option every trip down, and while this slowed the game up and he was guilty of stopping the ball at times, he was also their best option in the halfcourt, demonstrating good vision whilst carrying much of the scoring load. He will make mistakes at times, and is not efficient because of the lack of shot, but he will push the ball and rebound the glass, going coast to coast at times. He consistently makes tough ones and he consistently had to. Defensively, he needs to improve his rotations and help defense, but with his size and decent athleticism he can keep an opponent out of the paint, as well as crash the glass.
Ultimately, the profile and projection is all hindered by the lack of a shot. With it, his inefficient game would be a lot more efficient. But even with it, Sykes is sufficiently ball dominant that it's a mystery how he would fit alongside a point guard of some calibre. He can't be the primary playmaker if the team is to be any good, for he is too inefficient and mistake prone. So it is tough to project a fit for Sykes.