Isaiah Briscoe inks his first NBA deal

Kentucky+Wildcats+guard+Isaiah+Briscoe+calms+down+head+coach+John+Calipari+as+he+reacts+to+a+call+during+the+2017+NCAA+Mens+Basketball+Tournament+South+Regional+Sweet+16+at+FedExForum+on+Friday%2C+March+24%2C+2017+in+Memphis%2C+KY.+Photo+by+Addison+Coffey+%7C+Staff.

Kentucky Wildcats guard Isaiah Briscoe calms down head coach John Calipari as he reacts to a call during the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament South Regional Sweet 16 at FedExForum on Friday, March 24, 2017 in Memphis, KY. Photo by Addison Coffey | Staff.

Kernel Sports Staff

Former UK basketball guard Isaiah Briscoe has agreed to his first NBA deal with the Orlando Magic after an outstanding season with Estonian team Kalev, first reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

For the Cats, Briscoe was a consistent intensity player that was very vocal and displayed leadership.

He averaged 10 points per game, but struggled from deep, shooting only 22.9 percent from behind the arc while at UK. His international play improved that part of his game greatly, as he has now shot 39 percent from deep over his international career.

Briscoe has averaged 18.5 points per game during his international career, and was on the radar of both the Philadelphia 76ers and Portland Trail Blazers last season. He entered the 2017 NBA Draft along with De’Aaron Fox, Malik Monk, Bam Adebayo, Derek Willis and Dominique Hawkins, but wasn’t selected on draft night.

Briscoe becomes the 23rd former UK player to actively have an NBA roster spot, and the 108th all-time former Cat to make it to the league. No former Cats are currently on the Magic’s roster, but the team most recently had Jodie Meeks on their team.

Summer League is still under way, and Briscoe will likely make an appearance in some fashion for the Magic as they prepare for a rebuilding season.