Seton Hall Star Isaiah Whitehead has learned a lot from NBA Mentors

Isaiah Whithead/NJ.com

Following the 2014-15 college basketball season, NBA MVP and champion Stephen Curry sent Seton Hall’s Isaiah Whitehead an invitation to be a counselor at his SC30 camp that took place last summer.

Whitehead was given the opportunity to work out and learn from one of the NBA’s top players, as well as the top high school guards in the nation. On Wednesday, Whitehead talked about his experience with Curry:

“I learned a lot, Steph was amazing. A very humble and great guy,” Whitehead said. “I learned how to run ball screens, when to shoot when not to shoot and when to pass and when not to pass. It was a great experience.”

Along with Curry, Whitehead has also had the opportunity to work with Lance Stephenson as well as JR Smith who was in South Orange this past summer.

Stephenson, like Whitehead was Mr. New York Basketball, and attended Lincoln High School in Coney Island, Brooklyn.

Stephenson had some advice for the rising sophomore regarding social media and distractions.

“He told me there is no reason to be distracted by social media during the season,” Whitehead said. “We’ve all come together as team and agreed to stay off of it.”

Whitehead is also looking to transform into a leader on and off the court for the Pirates this season.

“I am looking at leadership this year as a key. I need to lead by example.” Whitehead said. “I am a point guard and I am trying to get everyone involved.”

The talk of Whitehead making a move to the NBA has been brought up since the day he stepped foot in South Orange. With NBA stars like Curry, Stephenson and Smith working out with him over the summer, some may believe that Whitehead is looking towards the NBA after this season.

Growing up in New York City, Whitehead feels that there has always been pressure and he has a way of dealing with it.

“I’ve dealt with pressure my whole life,” the Sophomore star said. “Growing up in New York City I’ve been around pressure a lot and I feel like I deal with it well.”

Either way anyone looks at it, eyes will be on No. 15 this season as Whitehead looks to implement everything he has learned this past summer.

“There isn’t exactly pressure to look towards the NBA at all,” the McDonalds All-American said. “Those guys told me not to rush. I am just taking my time and when the opportunity comes they told me to just take it.”

Whitehead was also asked if he felt similar pressure coming in this year a bit older and now at the point guard position.

“The pressure is different,” Whitehead told me. “Everything that happened last year, guys leaving it was tough, but I know my team and a lot of those guys are going to help me out.”