Isaac Haas
Isaac Haas (born October 2, 1995) is an American former professional basketball player who primarily played as a center, known for his college career at Purdue University and subsequent professional stints in the NBA G League and Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).[1] Standing at 7 feet 2 inches (2.18 m) tall, Haas was recognized for his efficient scoring inside the paint, leading the Big Ten Conference in field goal percentage during the 2017–18 season with a .617 mark.[2] After retiring from basketball, he transitioned into real estate, joining SRS Real Estate Partners in 2024 as an associate in their Dallas office, focusing on industrial tenant representation.[3] Haas began his basketball journey at Hokes Bluff High School in Alabama, where he earned recognition as a top recruit, ranking 82nd nationally in the 2014 class.[2] At Purdue from 2014 to 2018, he appeared in 139 games, averaging 11.2 points and 4.6 rebounds per game while shooting 58.9% from the field over his career.[2] His senior year was particularly notable, with averages of 14.7 points and 5.7 rebounds, contributing to Purdue's Elite Eight appearance in the 2018 NCAA Tournament before a season-ending elbow injury in the tournament.[2] Haas's college efficiency stood out, as he became the only active Division I player to reach 1,000 points in under 1,800 minutes played.[4] Undrafted in the 2018 NBA Draft, Haas signed with the Utah Jazz but was waived shortly after, leading him to the NBA G League's Salt Lake City Stars for the 2018–19 and 2019–20 seasons.[1] There, he averaged 8.8 points and 6.3 rebounds per game across 71 appearances, showcasing a career-high 62.9% field goal percentage in his rookie season.[5] He later played overseas in the CBA for the Guangzhou Loong Lions (2020–21) and Beijing Royal Fighters (2021–23), with his most productive professional season in Guangzhou where he averaged 16.1 points and 6.9 rebounds over 54 games.[6] Following his basketball career, Haas earned a bachelor's degree in selling and sales management from Purdue and worked in renewables before entering commercial real estate.[3]Early life and high school
Family and early background
Isaac Haas was born on October 2, 1995, in Birmingham, Alabama, to parents Rachel and Danny Haas.[4] The family later settled in the small town of Hokes Bluff, Alabama, where Haas spent his early years in a close-knit household that emphasized quiet routines to accommodate health challenges.[7] His younger sister, Erin, was diagnosed with intractable epilepsy at three months old, having suffered unnoticed infantile spasms as an infant that led to multiple brain surgeries, including one in 2012 requiring facial reconstruction from seizure-related falls.[7] The condition profoundly impacted the family, necessitating a hushed home environment—such as phones on vibrate and soft-close toilet lids—to avoid triggering Erin's seizures from sudden noises or their absence, while Haas often comforted her afterward, holding her like a baby during recovery.[7] Haas's early exposure to basketball began in youth leagues and summer teams, where his rapid physical growth allowed him to dominate play despite his novice skills. By age two, he already stood 3 feet 5 inches tall, reaching light switches and outgrowing standard baby sizes, and he reached 6 feet 10 inches by ninth grade.[8] This exceptional height, culminating at 7 feet 2 inches, drew recruitment interest from major colleges as early as age 15, with scouts visiting games in population-4,000 Hokes Bluff.[7] The Haas family provided dedicated support to manage his size, retrofitting their home with 7-foot-5 doorways, high shower heads, and a king-sized bed to suit his needs. Rachel and Danny made frequent two-hour drives to an Atlanta-area Target store—the nearest location stocking size 5T clothing—for toddler outfits when Haas was still in diapers, a process Rachel described as simply "expensive."[7] They also navigated daily accommodations like XLT-sized clothing and size-22 shoes, while vaulting ceilings prevented injuries from low fixtures.[8] These efforts fostered resilience in Haas, setting the stage for his transition to high school basketball.High school career
Isaac Haas attended Hokes Bluff High School in Hokes Bluff, Alabama, from 2011 to 2014, where he developed into a dominant center known for his size and shot-blocking ability.[4] As a senior in the 2013–14 season, Haas averaged 20.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.4 blocks per game, showcasing his interior presence and efficiency around the basket.[9] His performance earned him first-team all-state honors from the Alabama Sports Writers Association, recognizing him as one of the top players in Class 4A.[10] Haas also received a nomination for the McDonald's All-American Game, highlighting his status among the nation's elite prospects.[11] Under his leadership, the Hokes Bluff Eagles compiled a 27–6 record—the best in school history at the time—and advanced to the state semifinals, marking their first appearance at that stage in the modern tournament format.[12] Haas's high school success drew widespread recruitment interest, culminating in his commitment to Purdue University on November 18, 2013, after decommitting from Wake Forest.[13] He chose the Boilermakers over offers from programs including Alabama, Auburn, Mississippi State, and Vanderbilt.[14] Ranked No. 82 in the RSCI Top 100 for the class of 2014, Haas was seen as a high-upside big man with potential to contribute immediately at the collegiate level.[2]College career
Purdue Boilermakers tenure
Isaac Haas arrived at Purdue University in 2014 as a highly touted center, ranked No. 82 in the RSCI Top 100 recruits.[2] As a freshman during the 2014–15 season, he primarily served in a backup role to senior center A.J. Hammons, appearing in 34 games with 11 starts while averaging 7.6 points and 4.1 rebounds per game.[2] Despite his limited playing time, Haas showcased exceptional scoring efficiency, becoming the only active college player in the United States to reach 1,000 career points in fewer than 1,800 minutes played.[15] During his sophomore campaign in 2015–16, Haas expanded his contributions, participating in all 35 games with 15 starts and posting averages of 9.8 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.[2] His development as a reliable interior presence helped bolster Purdue's frontcourt, aiding the team's advancement to the NCAA Tournament, where they suffered a narrow first-round overtime defeat to Little Rock.[16] Haas continued to refine his game, shooting over 58 percent from the field throughout the season.[4] As a junior in 2016–17, Haas solidified his status as a starter, playing in all 35 games with 15 starts and elevating his production to 12.6 points and 5.0 rebounds per game while shooting 58.7 percent from the field.[2] His consistent performance earned him Honorable Mention All-Big Ten recognition from both coaches and media.[4] Purdue won the Big Ten regular-season championship with a 14–4 conference record but exited the Big Ten Tournament in the quarterfinals to Michigan. Purdue qualified for the NCAA Tournament, defeating Vermont in the first round before losing to Kansas in the second round. Entering his senior year in 2017–18, Haas assumed a starring role, starting all 35 games and averaging 14.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game.[2] He earned third-team All-Big Ten honors from the media. His dominant presence in the paint was instrumental in Purdue's 15–3 conference record, which placed them in a tie for second in the Big Ten regular season, and advancement to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament before his season was cut short by injury in the first round.[17]Injuries and senior season
During his senior season in 2017–18, Isaac Haas emerged as a key contributor for Purdue, averaging 14.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game with a 61.7% field goal percentage during the season before his injury in the NCAA Tournament.[2] His performance helped anchor the Boilermakers' frontcourt as they entered the postseason with high expectations. The turning point came on March 16, 2018, during Purdue's first-round NCAA Tournament victory over Cal State Fullerton, when Haas fractured his right elbow after being dragged down by an opponent in a "hook and hold" maneuver while battling for a rebound, with 8:46 remaining in the second half.[18][19] Haas briefly returned to the game in visible pain but was ruled out for the remainder of the tournament following X-rays that confirmed the fracture.[18] In Haas's absence, Purdue advanced through the second round against Butler and the Sweet 16 against Texas A&M before falling in the Elite Eight to Texas Tech, with teammates dedicating their postseason run to their injured captain as motivation amid the emotional setback.[20][21] Efforts to facilitate his return included Purdue engineering students designing a custom elbow brace over 30 hours to comply with NCAA rules on protective equipment, but officials ultimately prohibited its use in games, preventing any further participation that season.[22][23] Haas underwent surgery on his elbow after the tournament to repair the fracture, marking the premature end to his college career despite his strong senior production.[23] The injury significantly hampered his NBA draft prospects, contributing to him going undrafted in the 2018 NBA Draft despite pre-injury averages that positioned him as a potential late-round pick based on his size and scoring efficiency.[6][20]College career statistics
During his four seasons with the Purdue Boilermakers from 2014 to 2018, Isaac Haas demonstrated efficiency as a post player, particularly in scoring and rebounding, while playing 139 games in total.[2]Per-Game Averages by Season
| Season | GP | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | FG% | FT% | BPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 34 | 14.6 | 7.6 | 4.1 | 0.3 | .535 | .547 | 0.7 |
| 2015–16 | 35 | 14.3 | 9.8 | 3.7 | 0.5 | .594 | .714 | 0.8 |
| 2016–17 | 35 | 19.5 | 12.6 | 5.0 | 0.6 | .587 | .711 | 0.7 |
| 2017–18 | 35 | 23.4 | 14.7 | 5.7 | 0.7 | .617 | .758 | 1.3 |
| Career | 139 | 18.0 | 11.2 | 4.6 | 0.5 | .589 | .711 | 0.9 |
Career Totals
Haas recorded 1,555 points, 643 rebounds, and 124 blocks across his Purdue career, appearing in all 139 games. His field goal percentage stood at 58.9%, ranking him sixth in Purdue history for career field goal percentage among players with significant minutes.[2][4]Advanced Statistics
Haas's career true shooting percentage was .621, reflecting his effective scoring inside the arc, while his usage rate reached 30.3%, indicating a substantial offensive role in his senior year. In 2017–18, his player efficiency rating was 28.8. He led the Big Ten in field goal percentage during the 2017–18 season at .617.[2][24]Big Ten Conference Averages
In Big Ten play, Haas averaged 10.1 points and 4.2 rebounds per game over 72 appearances, with a career conference field goal percentage of .556.[2]| Season | GP | MPG | PPG | RPG | FG% | FT% | BPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 18 | 12.4 | 5.4 | 3.4 | .455 | .552 | 0.8 |
| 2015–16 | 18 | 12.7 | 8.1 | 2.8 | .577 | .702 | 0.3 |
| 2016–17 | 20 | 17.9 | 11.4 | 5.0 | .556 | .740 | 0.7 |
| 2017–18 | 16 | 25.5 | 15.4 | 5.6 | .609 | .717 | 1.6 |