WS Chronicle

This fall, former Mount Tabor basketball standout Isaiah Wilkins will be taking his talents to Blacksburg, Virginia. While surrounded by family, friends, coaches, and teammates last week, Wilkins signed his letter of intent to continue his education and basketball career at Virginia Tech.

Wilkins, who is listed as a 6-foot-4 forward, finished his senior season with the Spartans averaging 22 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3 assist, and 2 steals. He also led the Spartans to the third round of the NCHSAA (North Carolina High School Athletic Association) 3A playoffs before they were knocked off by Cox Mills, the team that would go on to win the state championship. 

Mount Tabor head coach Andy Muse described Wilkins as a high character person who always has a smile on his face. He continued “… He’s a winner. Every team he played with he won.”

Shorty after the season ended in February, Wilkins announced he would reclassify and attend Hargrave Military Academy but, after a stellar summer campaign with Team CP3 17U on the AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) circuit, the offers from Division I programs started to roll in. 

Wilkins also received offers from Wake Forest, Marshall, Dayton, East Carolina, Wofford University, Clemson, Appalachian State, UNC Charlotte, UNC Wilmington, Elon, High Point University, College of Charleston, Winthrop and Wichita State. 

“I was one of those kids not many people knew about, so I was kind of under the radar but I was always told to play my game and let God handle the rest, and that’s exactly what I did.” Wilkins said.

When discussing his decision to attend Virginia Tech and play for head coach Buzz Williams, Wilkins said, after visiting the campus earlier this summer he knew it was the perfect fit. He said Williams told him he would be able to come in and immediately be a difference maker for the Hookies. 

Richard Daniels Jr., Wilkins’ trainer, echoed those sentiments when discussing Wilkins’ decision to attend Virginia Tech. He said, “I went with him on his visit there, and it was just a perfect fit. 

“When I saw him out there with those guys, you couldn’t tell he wasn’t already on the team,” Daniels continued. “It was just a perfect fit for the type of player he is.”

Although Wilkins has proven he has what it takes to get it done on the court, he isn’t taking this opportunity for granted, he says. He understands playing in the ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) isn’t going to be a walk in the park, so he’s constantly working on his game. He plans to spend the remainder of the summer getting his body in better shape for the grind of a Division I schedule.

 “I have to work on my body; that’s the most important thing. I’m also working on my ball handling and my jump shot,” he said. “… This is a real dream come true because not many kids have this opportunity to go to a good school like Virginia Tech.”