Penn men’s basketball head coach Fran McCaffery continues to prove that recruiting is one of his top priorities as he leads the team into a new era.
McCaffery added another three-star recruit to next fall’s roster in 6-foot-6 small forward Isaiah Carroll — the No. 5 player in New Jersey in the Class of 2026 and the highest-rated high school recruit this decade for Penn men’s basketball, according to 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 New Jersey, previously played for Harvard-Westlake — California’s No. 1 high school basketball team — and 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 round of recruitment this past summer, Carroll fielded additional offers from Cal Poly, UMass Amherst, Northeastern, Hofstra, Seton Hall, Seattle University, and Cornell. After narrowing down his choices to Penn, UMass Amherst, and Northeastern, Carroll decided to join the Quakers after considering the role that McCaffery planned for him to hold on the team.
“[McCaffery told me that I’m] gonna be a big piece here next year, and [I’m] gonna play as a freshman, and have the chance to start. … I feel like I can make an impact right away,” Carroll told the DP.
He will join fellow Garden State star Ethan Lin, who is the No. 7 player in New Jersey and a fellow three-star recruit, in the Quakers’ Class of 2030.
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. McCaffery has made it a priority at the start of his tenure as head coach.
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In April, when McCaffery hired assistant coach Ben Luber, he noted that Luber “was an excellent recruiter [and] phenomenal in skill development” and “really relates well to everyone.”
Carroll said that Luber and his interest in his life on and off the court were 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,” Carroll said. “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 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 go to school just 25 minutes from campus. In addition, Carroll’s father is a Philadelphia native and was an athlete while at Penn, competing for men’s swimming and diving.
“More important to me, beyond basketball, [is how] many family members and people that I know that I’m so close to have a connection to Penn,” Carroll said.
“Welcome home son. I can’t [even] talk right now!!” Carroll’s father wrote on Instagram of the news.
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 during the years after.
“I’m just excited to see hopefully this year, but most definitely when I get there next year, [being] able to turn that [losing record] around, and hopefully win a championship,” Carroll said.
