The UConn men’s basketball program has received a commitment from Northern Arizona forward Isaiah Shaw as a transfer for the 2026–27 season, adding to the team’s frontcourt depth and court spacing.
Shaw, a 6-foot-8 200-pound stretch foward, is the son of Casey Shaw, a former professional basketball player who was drafted in the second round in 1998 before playing most of his career overseas. Isaiah was born in Rome, but the family came back to the United States as Casey started a coaching career. Casey coached Isaiah in high school in the Nashville area at Davidson Academy, before they all moved to the Phoenix area as Casey reunited as an assistant coach with Bryce Drew at Grand Canyon, and Isaiah finished high school at Phoenix Prep. Beyond his Dad’s professional and coaching experience, Bryce and national championship-winning coach Scott Drew are Isaiah’s uncles through marriage, and legendary Valpariaso coach Homer Drew is his grandfather. Isaiah’s mother, Dana Drew-Shaw, is Toledo’s all-time leading scorer.
Casey is still on Bryce’s staff at Grand Canyon, and Isaiah began his collegiate career there. He sat out a year as a preperatory redshirt, then briefly played the next year as a redshirt freshman before being sidelined with a knee injury. Isaiah played one more season at Grand Canyon, then transferred to Valparaiso for a season, before heading back to Arizona to play at Northern Arizona for his redshirt junior season.
This last year was his best, as he earned 22 starts in 29 games for the Lumberjacks. He averaged 8.1 points, 2.1 rebounds, 0.6 assists and shot 46.4% from three on 2.4 attempts per game. He had a solid 3.6% block rate as a forward as well. The Northern Arizona to UConn transfer route might seem strange, but there is a connection. Former UConn grad assistant Tim Russo is an assistant coach at Northern Arizona. Isaiah is expected to serve in a reserve role.
