In a twist of fate, childhood friends Milos Uzan and Pop Isaacs, now rival guards, face off in the NCAA Tournament.
OKLAHOMA CITY — Two longtime friends. One March stage. And a twist neither saw coming.
Houston’s Milos Uzan and Texas A&M’s Pop Isaacs, two Las Vegas products who grew up together are both lead guards, now meet in the NCAA Tournament with everything on the line.
“We worked out together most of our lives growing up,” Isaacs said.
But this matchup almost looked very different.
Isaacs transferred to Houston last year, expecting to join the Cougars and potentially replace Uzan if he left for the NBA. Instead, Uzan returned — setting off a chain reaction.
“It kind of just, when I decided to come back, it kind of just wasn’t enough,” Uzan said on Friday. “It wasn’t enough space, honestly.”
Isaacs pivoted, landing at Texas A&M — and ultimately setting up this March meeting.
“I’m happy with my decision. I’m glad it worked out for all parties,” Isaacs said earlier this week.
Even with the change, the relationship hasn’t.
“It’s just a super dope moment because you don’t get to see that a lot,” Isaacs said.
“It’s super exciting … just to be able to go out there and compete against one another,” he added.
For Houston coach Kelvin Sampson, who once recruited Isaacs, the familiarity remains.
“Pop’s a great kid … really talented, high basketball IQ,” Sampson said. “He can play the point or the two.”
But once the game tips, friendship takes a back seat.
“That’s definitely my brother,” Uzan said. “But when you get between those lines, it’s war.”
After the bracket was revealed, the two exchanged a text — but since then, it’s been all business.
For one night in Oklahoma City, the bond remains.
The roles, however, have changed.
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