Carroll is a small forward and set to graduate from Blair Academy in N.J. in 2026.
19 minutes ago
Penn’s highest-rated high school recruit in the past decade, Isaiah Carroll, poses at the Palestra. (Photo courtesy of Isaiah Carroll)
Penn men’s basketball coach Fran McCaffery continues to prove that recruiting is one of his top priorities in his new era of Penn men’s basketball.
McCaffery added another three-star recruit to next fall’s roster in small forward Isaiah Carroll. The 6-foot-6 small forward is the fifth-ranked player in New Jersey in the Class of 2026, and the highest-rated high school recruit in the past decade of Penn men’s basketball per 247 Sports.
“I couldn’t just stop thinking about it. I couldn’t really see myself playing anywhere else,” Carroll told The Daily Pennsylvanian of his decision.
Carroll, who currently plays for Blair Academy in N.J., notably played for Harvard-Westlake previously – California’s No. 1 high school basketball team. He was an integral part of Harvard-Westlake’s quest for a third-straight state title. But after being underrecruited in his senior year at Harvard-Westlake, Carroll decided to transfer across the country to Blair Academy to further develop his game.
During his second recruiting journey this past summer, Carroll fielded offers from California Polytechnic State, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Northeastern, Hofstra, Seton Hall University, Seattle University, and Cornell. After narrowing down his offers to Penn, UMass Amherst, and Northeastern, Carroll solidified his decision to join the Quakers due to the role head coach Fran McCaffery had planned for him.
“[McCaffery told me that] you’re gonna be a big piece here next year, and you’re gonna play as a freshman, and have the chance to start … I feel like I can make an impact right away,” Carroll said.
He notably joins fellow Garden State star Ethan Lin in the Quakers’ Class of 2030, who is the seventh-ranked player in New Jersey and a fellow three-star recruit.
Recruiting was a point of contention during former Penn men’s basketball head coach Steve Donahue’s tenure, as he struggled to attract and retain top talent.
In April, McCaffrey noted about the hiring of assistant coach Ben Luber that he “was an excellent recruiter [and] phenomenal in skill development” and “really relates well to everyone.”
Carroll cited Luber and his interest in him and his life beyond the court as a huge part of why he chose Penn.
“[Luber] was the first one to come out to [watch me] practice [at Blair], stay to talk to [me] before and after … I think that really showed above all the other staff that [Penn] was really bought into me … While we were on the visit with my mom, they just took interest in us beyond basketball, they were talking to my mom about all the TV shows that she writes that they’ve seen and asking about my family and my brother,” Carroll said.
New Jersey’s fifth-ranked and three-star recruit, Isaiah Carroll, poses with his mom (Photo courtesy of Isaiah Carroll).
Carroll also had a more personal factor in his decision to attend Penn: his family. Carroll’s parents — both Penn alumni — met each other and Carroll’s godparents at Penn. Carroll’s cousins also go to school just 25 minutes from campus. Carroll’s father was also an athlete and swam for Penn men’s swimming and diving.
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“More important to me beyond basketball [is how] many family members and people that I know that I’m so close to this day have a connection to Penn,” Carroll said.
NIL money and lack of pay for play were not a factor in Carroll’s decision, and his excitement for joining the program stems from being part of Penn’s rise in the Ancient Eight next season and for the years after.
“I’m just excited to see hopefully this year, but most definitely when I get there next year and be able to turn that [losing record] around, and hopefully win a championship, and the time that I’m there,” Carroll said.
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