The former Oregon State forward is projected to make an immediate impact with size and three-point shooting ability. 

Brian Dutcher and the Aztecs continue to see chaos in the portal after Rice transfer guard Nick Anderson suffered a potential season-ending knee injury, leading to a much-needed backup plan.

In response to the injury, San Diego State men’s basketball picked up 6-foot-7 French forward Isaiah Sy on May 23 from Oregon State, a new Pac-12 rival. Sy is a two-way sharpshooting wing who will provide size, deep shooting, and a veteran presence to the reconstructed Aztec roster.

“I feel like last year, I was more of a shooter. This year, I wanted to improve my ball-handling, driving to the rim, and aggressiveness,” Sy said before heading into the postseason last year. “I feel being aggressive is one of the things that I added to my game this year.”

Sy began his collegiate journey at Cloud County Community College, where he averaged 11.2 points per game on 47.9% shooting and 47.1% from beyond the arc. His freshman performance was enough to land him a roster spot with the Beavers for his sophomore and junior years.

In 33 appearances and seven starts, Sy averaged 5.7 ppg on 41.2% from the floor. He scored in double figures six times, but his third year is when he really began to make an impact.

In his junior appearances, Sy also played in 33 games but started in 29 of them this time around, solidifying himself as the Beavers’ starting small forward. He averaged 10 ppg, 4.6 rebounds per gam,e and 1.7 assists per game, shooting 35.4% from three-point range and 87.1% from the charity stripe. His impact was enough to earn him an All-WCC Honorable Mention and Academic All-WCC Honorable Mention, showcasing his effort both on the court and in the classroom.

Sy contributed numerous high-level performances, tallying 16 games scoring in double figures and two double-doubles. He recorded his first career double-double and career high in points against LMU on Jan. 14, scoring 25 points and 11 rebounds. His other double-double came against the University of San Diego on Jan. 31, where he added 16 points and 12 rebounds.

His third-year success showed his potential as a leader on both sides of the ball, which will be pivotal for the Scarlet and Black after losing all of their veteran leadership figures.

“I feel like a leader, a shooter, and someone who can communicate on defense, and make sure that I play hard,” Sy said.

🇫🇷 Isaiah Sy — Scouting Report (Oregon State Beavers / Pac-12 Conference)

Profile
• Wing / Guard — 6’7 | 6’10 wingspan
• Junior
• French 🇫🇷
• Currently in the NCAA Transfer Portal
• Archetype: 3&D wing / high-IQ role player

⸻

🏀 Production Snapshot (Pac-12 Level)
• 10… pic.twitter.com/PY360dyIXA

— Scouting lab (@scouting_lab) April 8, 2026

As the lengthy forward enters his senior year, SDSU will turn to Sy to become an immediate impact on the offensive side of the ball. This was a trait expected of Anderson before getting hurt in practice. However, head coach Brian Dutcher has always been known for producing a defensive-focused unit. After averaging just 0.4 blocks per game and 0.6 steals per game last season, Sy will need to utilize his height and 6-foot-10 wingspan to demonstrate his defensive presence heading into the 2026-27 season.

But at least for the time being, Sy will be viewed as one of the top Aztec transfers and is projected to be the starting small forward, according to Sports Illustrated. He is expected to be joined by point guard Chance Gladden, shooting guard Elzie Harrington, power forward Tae Simmon,s and center Jeremiah ‘Bear’ Cherry to round out SDSU’s potential starting five.

The Aztecs have not officially announced Sy as an addition to the roster.

Nick Edgar

Nick is a San Diego State graduate and was the former sports editor for The Daily Aztec, where he consistently covered SDSU men’s basketball and golf, while occasionally covering football and volleyball. He has continued his SDSU men’s basketball coverage for the East Village Times, but also wants to contribute golf and Padres stories. He’s a lifelong sports fan and is eager to cover whatever opportunities are presented to him.