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One accomplishment all that eludes Isaiah Briscoe

07/24/2014, 12:00am EDT

By Ari Rosenfeld

Isaiah Briscoe (above) has done everything in his HS career--except win a Tournament of Champions. (Photo courtesy Kelly Kline/Under Armour)

Ari Rosenfeld (@realA_rosenfeld)
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The underdog story has always been a popular one in the sports world. The story of David, doing what no one expected him to do and defeating Goliath. Many athletes will say that they thrive using that “nobody believes in us” attitude as motivation.

Isaiah Briscoe’s career does not quite fit that mold.

Briscoe has been playing in the national spotlight since he was in middle school, and earned his first Division I offers before playing his first high school game.

While many players have struggled living up to reputations gained during their early years, Briscoe has consistently met expectations throughout his career.

“I just stay level-headed, and I’m hungry just like I’m at the bottom still,” he said. “I’m hungry. Everything that happened, I just want more. I get greedier. Just like all that’s happening now, but I want more. I want everything. I’m just gonna go out and get whatever I want.”

Briscoe was the main attraction at Stockton College during the Live in AC 17U Showcase. High-major coaches like Steve Lavin (St. John's), Kevin Willard (Seton Hall), Eddie Jordan (Rutgers) and Jay Wright (Villanova) all poured in just before tip-off to catch a glimpse of him and the NJ Playaz against Maryland 3D.

He did not disappoint, finishing with 17 points in a 79-54 game that ended early due to the mercy rule.

It was easy to see that Briscoe has not let his sizable reputation on the court affect his attitude off of it. He remained on court for several minutes after the game, taking pictures and even signing autographs for a few young fans.

“I’ve got the right people in my circle,” he explained. “As you can see, I’m not walking around arrogant or anything like that. I’m still the little guy that was found when I was younger that was looking up to everybody else.”

Of his many notable accomplishments, including a gold medal playing for Team USA at the 18U FIBA Americas, the most important one for Briscoe might be his most recent.

Just last weekend, he scored 22 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and dished out seven assists while leading his Playaz squad to an 83-81 victory to win the Peach Jam, the championship tournament of the Nike-sponsored EYBL.

The game came down to the final seconds, and Briscoe calmly sank two technical free throws to win the game with three seconds remaining.

Once again, the pressure was on. And once again, Briscoe thrived.

“I knew I was gonna make ‘em. I told coach, I said ‘Put me on the line. I’ll make ‘em. I’m gonna win Peach Jam for us.’ He obviously trusts me,” he explained. “My last game, EYBL, he gave me the ball and he said ‘Go win the game.’”

Playing in his third EYBL, Briscoe had an important new role on this year’s team. Three of the team’s top five scorers (Temple Gibbs, Myles Powell and Trevon Duval) were underclassmen, and it was up to him to take a leadership role and show them the ropes of playing on the EYBL circuit.

“Just giving them confidence. Just tell them to go out there and have fun,” he said. “Each EYBL game is its own experience. So each game is gonna be different from the next, and different from the last. So just keep on giving them confidence and picking them up. Let them know that the torch is gonna be passed on from me to them, so they’ve just gotta take care of business.”

While his game already appears to be ready for the next level, this leadership role is one that Briscoe is looking to take more often as he finishes his high school career.

“I want it,” he said. “That’s one thing I’ve been trying to improve, is being a leader. Any opportunity I get to increase my I.Q. or anything like that, I’m gonna do it.”

One of the only awards that has eluded Briscoe thus far is the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions title, given to the winner of the tournament comprised of all six New Jersey state champions.

His Roselle Catholic team lost in the semifinals last year to Newark East Side, in a tight game that ended with East Side hitting a free throw in the final seconds to win 46-45.

Just like the Playaz were the favorites heading into Peach Jam, Roselle will be the favorites in New Jersey this year, as they return a starting lineup made up entirely of Division I recruits.

Briscoe is very comfortable in this position, and it is one that he has traditionally thrived in.

“Just always remember that we’ve gotta work hard," he explained. "And that every time we get on the court we’re gonna have a target on our back.”

Briscoe is confident that, just as he always has, he will be able to use that target on his back as motivation and eventually deliver Roselle its second Tournament of Champions title in school history.

“We’re gonna get the T.O.C this year,” he proclaimed. “It’s gonna mean a lot. I just want to keep on winning. Everybody loves a winner.”