Isaiah Stevens returns to CSU men’s basketball for fifth season

One of the best players in program history returns for his fifth and final season with the Colorado State men’s basketball team.

Guard Isaiah Stevens, a multiple-record holder for the Rams, tweeted a graphic Friday morning that simply read, “I’m back.

Stevens entered his name in the NBA draft in March, which allowed him to go through the evaluation process while maintaining his CSU eligibility. On Friday, he withdrew his name from the draft while announcing that he will play one more year with the Rams.

The 6-foot Allen, Texas native is eligible for a fifth season due to the NCAA granting an additional year to those affected by the COVID pandemic.

Stevens attended the NBA G League Elite Camp in May. After that, he did not receive an invite to the NBA combine. That meant he probably wouldn’t be drafted into the NBA. He had until May 31 to withdraw his name from the draft.

A four-time All Mountain West Conference draft pick and first-team winner last season, Stevens holds CSU records for all-time assists (618) and single-game assists (13). He broke that single-game record in the Rams’ final regular-season game against New Mexico. He had tied it at 12 times several times.

With one more season, he has a shot at becoming the program’s all-time leading scorer. He currently sits at 1,774 points. The record is 1,980 held by Pat Durham, who played for the Rams from 1985 to 1989.

Stevens has started 117 games for the Rams over the past four seasons, averaging 15.2 points and 5.3 assists per game over that span. Last season, despite missing CSU’s first eight games with a foot injury, he averaged 17.9 points and 6.7 assists, earning NABC second-team honors in all districts for the third consecutive year to accompany his conference honors.