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COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Isaiah Wong Makes His Mark in Miami, And He’s Not Done Yet

By Donald Hunt - Main Photo: Richard Lewis / Miami Athletics, 02/07/23, 1:00PM EST

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Main Photo: Courtesy of Richard Lewis / Miami Athletics

PSD Photos/Videos: Kathy Leister, Mike Nance, Chip Frenette & John Knebels

By: Donald Hunt

PHILADELPHIA – Isaiah Wong has been playing college basketball at a high level these days. Wong, a former Bonner-Prendergast star, who now plays for the University of Miami has been receiving some national attention for his basketball talents. Most recently, in last night’s 81-59 win against Duke, Wong scored 11 points becoming the eighth Hurricane to amass 1,650 career points.


University of Miami junior guard Isaiah Wong, was a 2x Philadelphia Catholic League MVP and 1,000 point scorer at Bonner-Prendergast - PSD Photo by Chip Frenette

He was named to the Jerry West Award Watch List for the second consecutive year. The award is presented to the top shooting guard in college basketball. He is also a candidate for the Naismith Player of the Year award. Wong is listed among the best players in the nation. Wong, a 6-4, 184-pound junior guard, is averaging 16.2 points and 4.7 rebounds a game.

“It’s an honor to be mentioned as one of the Jerry West Award and Player of the Year award [candidates],” Wong said. “It’s just all my hard work for this past four years in Miami and what I’ve been through and what has helped me through the process is just amazing with Coach L [Jim Larrañaga, Miami head coach] taught me and the players I’ve been around. They’ve all helped me throughout the process and what I’ve learned from them has helped me throughout the years. It’s a big honor.”

Wong has recently been named to the Wooden Award Late Season Top 20 Watch List, the USBWA (United States Basketball Writers Association) Oscar Robertson Trophy Midseason Watch List, NABC Player of the Year Watch List and the Lute Olson Player of the Year Award Watch List. 

He’s been no stranger to earning recognition for his basketball exploits. During his scholastic career, Wong led Bonner to the Catholic League championship game and the PIAA 4A state finals his senior year. He guided Bonner to a 22-6 record during the 2017-18 season.

Wong also captured league Most Valuable Player honors as a junior and a senior. He believes the level of play in the Catholic League has made a big impact on his game. He remembers playing against some of Philadelphia’s best high school players and teams.

“Catholic League was great competition,” Wong said. “They had a lot of good players and a lot of D-1 [Division One] players and people going pro like Jalen Duren in the Catholic League. He went to Roman [Catholic] and they had a nice team over there. Neumann-Goretti was good at that time. Everybody was competitive and everybody wanted to win. A lot of fans came out to the games. It was an honor to play there.”

ISAIAH WONG WAS WILLING TO DO WHATEVER IT TOOK TO HELP THE FRIARS SEIZE A STATE TITLE. INTERVIEW BY JOHN KNEBELS AFTER THE FRIARS’ 82-57 victory over Archbishop Carroll in the 2019 PIAA 4A quarterfinal.

VIDEO OF ISAIAH WONG HITTING HIS 1,000TH CAREER POINT AS A FRIAR - VIDEO TAKEN BY MBAP STUDENT REPORTER MAEVE MULDOON FOR PSD. WONG SCORED 1,281 points in only two seasons as a Friar.

Miami made a strong run in the NCAA tournament last season. The Hurricanes (19-5 overall, 10-4 league) are in the midst of battling the top teams like Clemson, Virginia, Duke, North Carolina and others in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Miami is currently ranked No. 19 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll. They are in position to land another spot in the NCAA tournament.

“We went to the Elite Eight for March Madness [last year],” Wong said. “We lost to Kansas. I can see us going far in March Madness. We have a lot of good players like Norchad [Omier], Nijel [Pack] and Jordan Miller. We’re all good this year. We have a lot of games left. We have to stick together and wait for March Madness.”

Wong looks like a player to watch the rest of the season, including March.