Prep basketball | IMG Academy's Jonathan Isaac, a heralded recruit, receives USA Basketball invite

BRADENTON -- John Mahoney doesn't mince words when discussing Jonathan Isaac.

Mahoney, IMG Academy's post-graduate head basketball coach, has coached and recruited several top-rated players at various colleges and at IMG.

The list, which includes Tim Hardaway Jr., Chris McCullough and Satnam Singh, is just a taste of future professionals that have crossed Mahoney's path.

So when Mahoney calls Isaac, a 6-foot-10 senior in his first-year with IMG Academy by way of Naples Barron Collier, NBA superstar Kevin Durant in high school.

"He models his game after Kevin Durant," Mahoney said. "He's a very, very good athlete for 6-10, who can handle the ball like a guard, who can shoot it like a guard. We've got to get him used to being consistent shooting. We've got to get him used to playing at a higher speed, a college-game speed. ... He runs like a deer and is in shape. He can run forever."

Of course, that comparison deserves merit when Isaac earned one of 57 invitations to the 7th annual USA Basketball Men's Junior National Team mini-camp that began Friday and concluded Sunday in Colorado Springs, Colo.

"It's been something I've always dreamed of being a part of U.S.A. Basketball, and now that I have the opportunity, it just shocked me," said Isaac, who is rated No. 9 in the 2016 ESPN 100 rankings.

Isaac arrived at IMG Academy in February. And only within the last year did Isaac, a Florida State University commit, discover the self-belief that he had the skills to play at the next level.

"I was always kind of iffy on what I wanted to do," Isaac said. "Then once EYBL (NIKE Elite Youth Basketball League) came on the scene, I could see I could play at a high level."

While Isaac possesses versatility to play various positions on the court, his favorite is small forward.

"It's the most versatile position," Isaac said. "You being able to handle the ball, shoot it and get to the lane and play down low sometimes."

Helping Isaac's development at IMG is his roommate, Aleem Ford.

"He likes playing defense on me to get better," Isaac said. "I just tell him to stay on me, even if I don't have the ball."

But despite the accolades that pile up, it's his humble attitude that catches Mahoney's eyes.

"There's no agenda," Mahoney said. "He's not polluted by all the things that go on that some of the young kids are today."

That humility coupled with an immense skill set is what drew interest from USA Basketball, and it landed Isaac in the mini-camp over the weekend.

It's something that Isaac was eager to see how he'd stack up against the rest of the top players in the country.

"Just to see where I'm at in terms of everyone that's there," Isaac said. "And try to be elite."

So far he's done just that, and that comparison to Kevin Durant isn't too far off.

Isaac even had a chance to meet his idol in California, and Durant gave him a shout-out on Twitter.

"He did say some stuff about me," Isaac said. "I saw it on Twitter about me embodying him when he was in high school."

Not bad for a late-blooming high school superstar.

"Getting USA, I'm not content," Isaac said. "I want to dominate at USA and stuff like that."

This story was originally published October 4, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Prep basketball | IMG Academy's Jonathan Isaac, a heralded recruit, receives USA Basketball invite ."