Maryland basketball transfer guard Isaiah Watts on teaming up with Myles Rice, how portal process materialized

Ahmed Ghafir
Apr 18
5 min read

Exactly one week after former Washington State guard Isaiah Watts became the latest addition for head coach Buzz Williams heading into his year one roster rebuild, former Pac-12 guard Isaiah Watts dove into his commitment and how the transfer portal process evolved into a decision to transfer to Maryland.

“Really coach Buzz,” Watts said on GCR. “He was the only coach to really talk to me about becoming a man, and for me, that is more important than – it's more important than a lot of this basketball stuff. I mean, for me, because basketball is going to stop at the end of the day. You’re going to have maybe 40 years of life without basketball so becoming a man was really important for me. He talked to me about growing as a basketball player and growing as a man.”

But more importantly for Watts, his transfer also gave himself a chance to reunite with a former teammate in Myles Rice after the two spent one season together at Washington State.

“It helped, for sure, it definitely helped. We had a lot of conversations, lot of long talks about this, so, yeah it definitely helped.”

More from Watts on his upbringing, his role in College Park, his skillset and more:

On being the grandson of former Sonics guard ‘Slick’ Watts

“It meant everything for me. It still does to this day. For me, growing up around him, I didn't even know he was famous. I didn't know he was a famous basketball player. I didn't know he played in the NBA because he was so just real and he was open to everybody – everybody could touch him, everybody could talk to him. And he really showed me the way. So living up to that is super important for me.”

Whether Isaiah Watts always knew basketball was the route in life

“I tried baseball for a minute. But I'm from Seattle, where it's cold during the spring time, so that really wasn't a choice for me, but as soon as I picked up that basketball I knew I was going to take off and run with it.”

On Watts relationship with Buzz

“This is the first time I really talked to coach Buzz. And obviously, legendary coach so you know about him. Everybody knows about him. But this is the first time I really talked to him, and when I did, I was just in awe.”

On whether playing on the East Coast in high school played a role in the portal

“I was talking to my mom yesterday, and I was like, for me, there's no problem going back to the East Coast. I love the East Coast. The vibe is just so much different out there and I can't wait to get back.”

On his relationship with any of his new teammates

“I played with Myles Rice my freshman year at Washington State. We're actually really close. He likes to think he's my big brother. He likes to, you know, bully me a little bit, but that's my guy. But everybody else I haven't met yet, but I'm excited to get down there and get to work.”

Watts on Myles Rice’s skillset

“He's one of my favorite people I've ever played with in terms of just making sure the ball is delivered on time, making sure people are in the right spots. He really is a maestro when it comes to running the offense. So I'm super excited to get back with him.”

On whether Watts had conversations with Buzz about his role

“Obviously you have those conversations when you're getting recruited – that's just a part of the recruitment process. But for me, I'm a worker, so no matter the situation, I'm going to put my head down. I'm going to, whoever comes in, whoever I'm playing with, we're going to compete and I'm going to try to get that starting spot.”

This is the new era of college basketball. This is my, I would say third brand new team. So I'm just getting used to it at this point.

On whether the portal process makes roster chemistry hard

“Like you said, it’s just basketball. At the end of the day, you put a great coach and a great group of guys together and make magic happen.”

When Watts arrives in College Park

“I'll be up there in May, May 26 and we’re hitting it hard as soon as May 26 hits…We gotta get back to that tournament, for sure. Not even back to the tournament…we gotta get deep in the tournament.”

How familiar Watts is with eating crabs

“I'm not at all. That sounds good, though.”

[cont.]

“Seattle right on the water. So we get all type of fish. We get salmon, we get crabs, we get shrimp and it's all fresh.”

Watts on his skillset, his game

“A dog. I think everybody says they're a dog, and everybody can say they're a dog, but you got to really live it. And I'm here to work. I've done this. I've been working in my whole life. I've been doubted my whole life. So you're getting a kid with a big chip on the shoulder, coming in ready to win.”

On his jersey number

“I’m actually undecided. My grandpa's funeral was yesterday and he wore 13, and somebody at his funeral said, Oh, well, I'll forever wear the 13. So I might have to go back to the 13.”

On what Isaiah learned from his dad

“Me and my dad, we're in the gym every day for long hours. So it would be hard to put one thing on it. I would say the best thing that he's taught me, that I think he would be proud of is my jump shot. He was a really good shooter, but I think I'm a way better shooter than him. But I'll let him know that from time to time. We get into arguments about that all the time, so I'll say my jump shot.”

On what Isaiah learned from his grandpa

“He really instilled confidence in me for everything – school, basketball. He coached me in sixth grade with a bunch of my friends and he used to just tell me all the time, shoot it, shoot it, shoot it. They don't work on their game, just shoot the ball, shoot it. So he really gave me the confidence to, if I work on it, shoot it.”

On his three-point shooting

“I struggled a little bit last year, but when I get it going, I get going.”

On who else had an impact on Isaiah’s life

“I've been around so many big names, and credit to my dad and my grandpa, just having me in those situations and having me around those people, I take something from everybody. Jamal Crawford here in Seattle, is obviously basketball royalty. He's also a pillar in the basketball community. He helps out. He works people out, he makes sure everybody's straight like Jamal. I take a lot from Jamal. Gary Payton. He talks a lot of trash. So I take that a lot from him. Isaiah Thomas, his work ethic. I watched him work out, the way he works.”

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