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Would-be Husky Wong leads Miami into national semifinal against UConn

adam betz, journal inquirer, manchester, conn.
·5 min read
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Mar. 31—HOUSTON — The second national semifinal of the NCAA Tournament will be full-circle-type of moment for Miami men's basketball guard Isaiah Wong.

When the Hurricanes step onto the floor tonight at NRG Stadium (8:49 p.m., CBS), Wong will be up against the school he chose Miami over — UConn.

"It's a small world, I feel, just (picking) between UConn and Miami, and now I'm playing UConn in the Final Four," Wong said. "It's just, like I said, a small world just having these two teams come and just having these two teams playing against each other."

Wong, a 6-foot-4 junior from Piscataway, New Jersey, was recruited by Huskies coach Dan Hurley while his was playing at Monsignor Bonner High in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania.

"I got recruited there, and I spent a lot of time thinking about UConn and the decision," Wong said. "And I feel like for me, I have like a lot of great connections with the coach and the assistants and all of them. So, I'd say I have great connections with them."

In 2018, Wong narrowed his list to Miami and UConn.

"It was just close," Wong said of his decision. "And (UConn coach Dan Hurley), he showed me a good time over there. I got to meet a lot of people on the team, and they were all great people over there, and he was just a great coach, I felt like."

In the end, Wong committed to the Hurricanes.

"I feel the coaching staff, when they had (former Miami assistant Adam) Fisher, he was a great coach, and he talked to me a lot," Wong said on what swayed him to Miami. "I felt real comfortable being around him. And Coach (Jim Larrañaga) was a great coach. And I felt at the time I was already committed to Miami and I really had my decision made."

When Hurley was told Thursday how close Wong said his decision was, he joked that he wished he hadn't been told that.

"I think you get a sense on the visit whether you're going to get the gold or the silver," Hurley added. "I think we always felt we were a little bit behind. But we imagined the potential backcourt of him and (James) Bouknight. It was an exciting dream that didn't come to fruition. Loved him as a player. Jersey guard. Athletic. Could score. Can play-make. Heck of a defensive player.

"It's not surprising that he's led his team to this point. Eventually, he is going to have a long career in the NBA."

Wong is averaging 16.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.4 steals for the Hurricanes (29-7). During Miami's four NCAA Tournament games, he's averaging 16.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.0 steals.

"I enjoy the growth. If you look at an Isaiah Wong, see where he was as a freshman, where he is now, you can't imagine it," Larrañaga said. "The guy has gotten so much better in everything."

While Wong is the key component, Miami's backcourt as a whole has been a force to be reckoned with as Nijel Pack (averaging 13.8 points, 2.7 rebounds), Jordan Miller (15.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 1.3 steals) and Wooga Poplar (8.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg) have all shined this season.

On the inside, Miami relies on big man Norchad Omier. He's averaging a double-double of 13.3 points and 10.1 rebounds.

"Just a tremendous individual ability to get their own shot, to score," Hurley said. "Miller is an NBA player, Wong is an NBA guard. Those two guys, they should be draft picks. They're both tremendous players that are really hard to guard one-on-one. Pack is obviously one of the best shooters in the country. Even though he doesn't have great size, he finds separation and gets it off quick. Poplar is another player that's playing at a really high level and he may be an NBA player as well."

"They're just really talented, and then they've got a 5 man (Omier) that's maybe the best rebounder and physical presence in the country. So, it's a really, really hard game for both of us."

UConn (29-8) has a strong presence inside too in junior forward Adama Sanogo, who's averaging 20.0 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks during the NCAA Tournament.

UConn's backcourt trio of Jordan Hawkins (16.3 rpg, 3.8 rpg), Tristen Newton (9.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 4.6 assists, 1.1 steals) and Andre Jackson (6.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 4.7 assists) also pose a threat to the Hurricanes.

"UConn is a great team. They love to shoot the ball," Wong said. "They have a big man that gets the rebound and plays hard. They got here for a reason. Just us being the underdog (by 5 1/2 points), we got here for a reason, too, so it's going to be a great game."

For coverage of UConn football and men's basketball as well as area high school and local youth sports, follow Adam Betz on Twitter: @AdBetz1, Facebook: Adam Betz — Sports Writer, and Instagram: @AdBetzJI.