Cardinal O’Hara graduate Izaiah Pasha finds ‘happy ending’ with commitment to Delaware

Izaiah Pasha, a former All-Philadelphia Catholic League selection at Cardinal O’Hara High, finally feels settled.

The 6-foot-5, 190-pound guard had some concerns this time last year when he was about to graduate from O’Hara. He had committed to Iona and Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino in November 2022 and thought his college future was set.

But when Pitino took the job at St. John’s in March 2023, Pasha, who’s from Harrisburg, changed his mind and was looking to join Pitino at St. John’s after a year at a prep school.

Those plans did not exactly work out, although Pasha finds himself content and much closer to home after he committed to Delaware and coach Martin Ingelsby last week.

Pasha was deciding between San Diego, Sacred Heart, and Delaware. He played at St. Thomas More, a college preparatory school in Oakdale, Conn., this past season, averaging 13 points, four rebounds, and four assists while shooting 59% from the field with 31 three-pointers.

Pasha said he likes how fast and open Delaware plays, which will allow him to play on and off the ball.

The Blue Hens will be losing their top-three leading scorers to graduation in seniors Jyáre Davis (17.1), Gerald Drumgoole Jr. (13.9), and Niels Lane (9.7).

Pasha, who averaged 18 points and seven rebounds in his senior season at O’Hara, is projected to play point guard for the Blue Hens, who finished 19-14 and 10-8 in the Coastal Athletic Association this season. In 2021-22, Delaware won the CAA Tournament and played a tough Villanova team in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament before losing, 80-60.

“I played point for St. Thomas More, they trusted me a lot with the ball and we won 30 games,” Pasha said. “It wasn’t a big adjustment. I always felt like I was a point guard. We had so many guards at O’Hara, so I couldn’t really show my point guard abilities. But I always felt I had the skills to play there. At the beginning of the AAU circuit, I had the ball in my hands.”

He has put on 15 pounds since playing at O’Hara. He always had superior athleticism, and with the added weight, he says he feels more explosive.

» READ MORE: Former Cardinal O’Hara guard Izaiah Pasha has NBA dreams

“I’m happy I made the move to play at a prep school for a year,” Pasha said. “It helped prepare me to be on my own. Delaware offered me two years ago, and when I visited [last] Wednesday, I was looking to check boxes. I’ll admit, I was very scared. I was scared in the sense that this was about to become very real and I was finally going to college.

“Delaware checked all the boxes for me, a great school, great coaching staff, and it is close to home. My main goal, and Coach Ingelsby’s goal for me, is to come into Delaware and make an immediate impact and be rookie of the year [in the CAA]. I want to get better, and I know a little bit about the CAA, with Drexel, Towson, and Charleston.”

Pasha said Temple was a priority during the fall and was a strong consideration. Coach Adam Fisher liked Pasha. But, Pasha admitted he was hesitant to pledge his commitment to the Owls, who eventually moved on from Pasha.

» READ MORE: Temple’s leading scorer, Hysier Miller, latest Big 5 men’s basketball player to enter transfer portal

“Temple told me they were going to be in the portal heavy at first, and I was not about to wait around for them this time, because I waited around too much already,” Pasha said. “Delaware will help me get better. I feel they trust me. Pitino never came back to me, either.

“St. John’s wanted me to go to St. Thomas More, and Coach Pitino and Coach Ricky Johns suggested it. Then they never spoke to me again. ... It’s OK. I have moved on. Delaware is a better fit for me. My mom, Melinda [Laureano], told me to go with my gut. ... This is a happy ending. I’m only looking at the future. You can’t wait today with the transfer portal.”