If Jonathan Isaac becomes a star, the Orlando Magic will owe a deep debt of gratitude to at least two people who no longer work on the team’s basketball operations staff.

Florida State coaches said two members of the Magic front office — former scouting coordinator John Halas and former video analyst for personnel Brad Jones — visited Tallahassee in early May and spent a day speaking with people in and around the Seminoles’ basketball program to learn as much as possible about Isaac.

Halas and Jones left no stone unturned. They interviewed a wide array of people, ranging from FSU’s coaches to FSU’s equipment manager.

“They touched base with everybody: the compliance people, the student-athlete development people,” said FSU associate head coach Stan Jones, who is not related to Brad Jones.

“They talked to tutors,” Stan Jones added. “They talked to academic support people. There’s a whole list of people that they went through. The strength coach. Trainers. Anybody that [Isaac] worked with during the year — they were trying to hit all of them.”

Just how much work did Halas and Brad Jones do? Put it this way: They even interviewed FSU’s longtime deputy director of sports information, Chuck Walsh, who works as a team spokesman and as a liason between the men’s basketball team and the media.

Halas’ and Jones’ trip to Tallahassee was a critical piece to the extensive scouting the Magic had begun during the tenure of former general manager Rob Hennigan.

Nalod wrote:Isaac is a bust?

No, I wasn't clear I see upon rereading. I mean that Halas was a huge part of drafting Isaac (who I very much like) but Isaac was a very high pick, and predicted to be pretty high. (So, didn't take rocket science to pick him.) That said, he still can bust, as many high picks do. So, should Halas land here, will be valuable to see what Isaac becomes, or doesn't. I have to see what other prospects Halas was behind, if any.

Unique skill sets within the modern game. Ability to guard multiple positions, switching on defense picking up guards with success, wingspan/length for strong help defense ability to cover ground, Floor spacing as 3 point threats.