I am so excited to continue coaching Isaac Neilson. – Mark Pope
Utah Valley University men's basketball head coach Mark Pope announced Monday that Mission Viejo, California, product Isaac Neilson signed a grant-in-aid award to play for the Wolverines.
"I am so excited to continue coaching Isaac Neilson," Pope said. "I expect that he will continue to grow both on and off the court at an extraordinary rate. He is a gifted shooter, has potential to be a dominant rebounder and plays with a chip on his shoulder and boldness to his game. He has the potential to change Utah Valley basketball forever."
The 6-foot-11, 225-pound forward is transferring from Brigham Young University where he played in 34 games and made five starts during his freshman season last year. He averaged 3.1 points and 2.4 rebounds per game for the Cougars last season. He scored in double digits four times, including a career-high 15-point performance in a win over Weber State.
Neilson prepped at Mission Viejo High School where he helped the team to a 29-3 record his senior season. Neilson averaged 15.3 points, 11.3 rebounds and 5.0 blocks per game his senior season and was named to the MaxPreps All-State Division II Second Team, All-CIF Southern Section Team Division 2AA and the Orange Country Register All-County Team.
Neilson served a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Alabama before redshirting the 2013-14 season at BYU.
Jason Erickson works in the communications office at the Utah Valley University athletic department. For more information on Wolverine athletics, visit WolverineGreen.com.