Unheralded Iziahiah Sweeney key for Compton basketball
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He isn’t the player you’re told to watch at a Compton High basketball game. That distinction would likely be given to the eye-popping athleticism of wing Isaiah Bailey or to the quickness and ball handling of point guard Kyron Cartwright. He might not be the first one to wow you either, but by the end of 32 minutes, you’ll probably find yourself thinking, “That No. 20 had a nice game.”
Iziahiah Sweeney is Compton’s overlooked and unheralded star who has been thriving for the Tarbabes without receiving much attention. At 6-foot-3 with solid baseline-to-baseline speed, a capable jump shot, a good motor and a natural nose for the ball, how is it that he’s been able to fly under the radar for so long?
Maybe it’s his unique first name (pronounced ease-EYE-uh), one that is often misspelled and even more often mispronounced. Perhaps it’s Sweeney’s understated persona on and off the court. He won’t be the player yelling and getting hyped before a game, or wearing fancy gear or bright-colored sneakers. His display name on Twitter is left blank, a fitting reminder of how low key he is. As one of three senior captains alongside Bailey and Cartwright, Sweeney doesn’t do much talking on the floor, but he leads his team in other ways.
“You need more than one person to lead in different ways,” said Bailey,
who is headed to Fresno State next year. “He leads more by example, Kyron and I are more vocal, but that’s the type of leadership (Sweeney) brings to the team, and we need it.”
Compton head coach Tony Thomas agrees that Sweeney’s leadership style is a tremendous asset to his team.
“He’s humble, he leads by example, and he’s a good role model,” said Thomas. “Vocal leaders are great, but silent leaders are just as valuable.”
Sweeney may speak softly, but he carries big game. He has been Compton’s most consistent performer during Moore League play — the only Tarbabe to score in double digits in all six contests — and is averaging a team-best 20.8 points per game in league, including a 32-point outburst against Wilson.
Thomas describes him as “dependable, reliable and consistent”, three traits that any coach would value. Sweeney — along with Bailey and Cartwright — has been contributing on varsity for the last three seasons, and has continually improved his game over that time.
“When he came here he was a poor defender,” Thomas admitted. “Now he’s one of my best defenders. He always takes on the challenge of guarding the best man — always. Whoever the best guy is, that’s who he wants to guard every night.”
Sweeney, who lives down the street from the Compton campus, has gotten comfortable as one of the go-to players for the Tarbabes, and his teammates appreciate what he brings to the floor every game.
“On the court (with Sweeney), it’s definitely exciting,” said Cartwright, who is set to play at Loyola Marymount next season. “He can jump, so I throw it up to the rim and he’ll always finish. It makes my job a lot easier.”
In the mold of a classic team player, Sweeney is not the type to make a show of his accomplishments, but is instead someone who wants to make his teammates better. Even without being vocal in games, Sweeney always seeks to lead in his own way.
“I just want to be an assistant every game,” Sweeney said. “I hope that my aggressiveness and competitive spirit rubs off on my teammates.”
But unlike his fellow captains, Sweeney does not have a destination set for the next level. He has offers from the likes of Nevada, San Diego and Harvard, but his future is still up in the air, and it’s very much on his mind.
“My motivation this year is knowing that I’m not signed anywhere,” said Sweeney. “So that’s what’s motivating me, working toward that.”
Sweeney, who carries a 3.5 GPA and has been on the honor roll all four years at Compton, admitted that he is intrigued by heading back East for school. His brother, Imani, attends Boston University and has spoken highly of going to school on the East Coast. Because Sweeney’s grandparents are teachers, it’s meant that school has always been a priority in his family.
Sweeney said he will wait for more offers to come in after the season before making a college decision, but when it does come time for him to sign his scholarship, he knows it will be a special moment.
“It would mean everything for me and my family,” said Sweeney. “I know my mom will be bragging to everybody and it will be big for helping me get out of here.”
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He isn’t the player you’re told to watch at a Compton High basketball game. That distinction would likely be given to the eye-popping athleticism of wing Isaiah Bailey or to the quickness and ball handling of point guard Kyron Cartwright. He might not be the first one to wow you either, but by the end of 32 minutes, you’ll probably find yourself thinking, “That No. 20 had a nice game.”
Iziahiah Sweeney is Compton’s overlooked and unheralded star who has been thriving for the Tarbabes without receiving much attention. At 6-foot-3 with solid baseline-to-baseline speed, a capable jump shot, a good motor and a natural nose for the ball, how is it that he’s been able to fly under the radar for so long?
Maybe it’s his unique first name (pronounced ease-EYE-uh), one that is often misspelled and even more often mispronounced. Perhaps it’s Sweeney’s understated persona on and off the court. He won’t be the player yelling and getting hyped before a game, or wearing fancy gear or bright-colored sneakers. His display name on Twitter is left blank, a fitting reminder of how low key he is. As one of three senior captains alongside Bailey and Cartwright, Sweeney doesn’t do much talking on the floor, but he leads his team in other ways.
“You need more than one person to lead in different ways,” said Bailey,
who is headed to Fresno State next year. “He leads more by example, Kyron and I are more vocal, but that’s the type of leadership (Sweeney) brings to the team, and we need it.”
Compton head coach Tony Thomas agrees that Sweeney’s leadership style is a tremendous asset to his team.
“He’s humble, he leads by example, and he’s a good role model,” said Thomas. “Vocal leaders are great, but silent leaders are just as valuable.”
Sweeney may speak softly, but he carries big game. He has been Compton’s most consistent performer during Moore League play — the only Tarbabe to score in double digits in all six contests — and is averaging a team-best 20.8 points per game in league, including a 32-point outburst against Wilson.
Thomas describes him as “dependable, reliable and consistent”, three traits that any coach would value. Sweeney — along with Bailey and Cartwright — has been contributing on varsity for the last three seasons, and has continually improved his game over that time.
“When he came here he was a poor defender,” Thomas admitted. “Now he’s one of my best defenders. He always takes on the challenge of guarding the best man — always. Whoever the best guy is, that’s who he wants to guard every night.”
Sweeney, who lives down the street from the Compton campus, has gotten comfortable as one of the go-to players for the Tarbabes, and his teammates appreciate what he brings to the floor every game.
“On the court (with Sweeney), it’s definitely exciting,” said Cartwright, who is set to play at Loyola Marymount next season. “He can jump, so I throw it up to the rim and he’ll always finish. It makes my job a lot easier.”
In the mold of a classic team player, Sweeney is not the type to make a show of his accomplishments, but is instead someone who wants to make his teammates better. Even without being vocal in games, Sweeney always seeks to lead in his own way.
“I just want to be an assistant every game,” Sweeney said. “I hope that my aggressiveness and competitive spirit rubs off on my teammates.”
But unlike his fellow captains, Sweeney does not have a destination set for the next level. He has offers from the likes of Nevada, San Diego and Harvard, but his future is still up in the air, and it’s very much on his mind.
“My motivation this year is knowing that I’m not signed anywhere,” said Sweeney. “So that’s what’s motivating me, working toward that.”
Sweeney, who carries a 3.5 GPA and has been on the honor roll all four years at Compton, admitted that he is intrigued by heading back East for school. His brother, Imani, attends Boston University and has spoken highly of going to school on the East Coast. Because Sweeney’s grandparents are teachers, it’s meant that school has always been a priority in his family.
Sweeney said he will wait for more offers to come in after the season before making a college decision, but when it does come time for him to sign his scholarship, he knows it will be a special moment.
“It would mean everything for me and my family,” said Sweeney. “I know my mom will be bragging to everybody and it will be big for helping me get out of here.”
