Career Honors
- 2018 Honorable-Mention All-Big Ten (Coaches and Media)
- 2016-17 Second-team Preseason All-Big East
- 2014-15 All-Big East Rookie Selection
- Three-Time Big East Rookie of the Week
- 2018 University of Nebraska Graduate
- Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll (Fall 2017, 2018)
2018-19 (Outlook)
One of the biggest questions entering last season was the health of Isaac Copeland Jr., who had back surgery in March of 2017 after transferring from Georgetown. The multi-skilled forward emphatically answered those questions by establishing career bests in scoring (12.9 ppg), rebounding (6.1 rpg) and blocked shots (1.0 bpg) while also shooting 37 percent from 3-point range. Copeland, who ranked third among Big Ten newcomers in both scoring and rebounding, played some of his best basketball down the stretch, averaging 15.8 ppg on 58 percent shooting in the Huskers’ final nine Big Ten games. A former five-star recruit coming out of high school, Copeland has put in an exceptional offseason working not only on his skill set, but also increasing strength and flexibility. Nebraska Head Coach Tim Miles believes that Copeland can make another jump, and be an All-Big Ten performer in 2018-19.
2017-18 (Junior)
Copeland proved to be a valuable addition to the NU roster, playing a significant role in helping the Huskers to 22 wins and the school’s first postseason appearance in four years. He earned honorable-mention All-Big Ten honors from the coaches and media, finishing second on the team in scoring (12.9 ppg), rebounding (6.1 rpg) and blocked shots (1.0 bpg), setting personal bests in all three areas. He was 13th in the Big Ten in blocked shots and 17th in rebounding. Copeland reached double figures 23 times, including five 20-point performances, as the Huskers went 17-6 when he reached double figures. The 6-foot-9 forward was second on the team with three double-doubles with two of them coming in Big Ten action.
Copeland showed his all-around game in Big Ten play, raising his scoring average to 13.5 points, including 43 percent from 3-point range, along with 5.8 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game. He had 14 of his double-figure efforts in Big Ten play, including a stretch of eight in nine games to close conference play. Over his final nine conference games, he averaged 15.8 points per game on 55 percent shooting, including 54 percent from 3-point range, and 6.3 caroms per contest. Copeland closed the regular season with his third double-double of the year with 17 points and a season-high 12 rebounds vs. Penn State on Feb. 25. He tallied three 20-point games in Big Ten action, including 23 points and seven boards in a win over Rutgers on Jan. 24, and a double-double with 23 points on 8-of-11 shooting and 11 rebounds in a win over Iowa on Jan. 27. He also keyed NU’s comeback at Penn State on Jan. 21, scoring 19 of his 21 points after halftime as NU rallied from a 16-point deficit to send the game into overtime.
Copeland got off to a slow start in non-conference play, as he returned to action following back surgery in February of 2017. After averaging just seven points in his first three games, Copeland had a season-high 30 point effort on 12-of-14 shooting and eight rebounds in the win over North Dakota on Nov. 19. It was one of eight double-figure efforts in non-conference play, highlighted by a 20-point, 11-rebound performance in a loss at Creighton on Dec. 9, and 12 points and nine rebounds in a one-point loss to No. 13 Kansas on Dec. 16.
2016-17 (Medical Redshirt)
Copeland joined the Husker roster at the start of the second semester, but did not practice with the team after back surgery in February of 2017.
Before Nebraska
Copeland spent two-plus seasons at Georgetown before leaving the program in December of 2016. In seven games, he averaged 5.4 points and 3.3 rebounds per game, highlighted by a 13-point, 13-rebound effort against Maryland. He reached double figures in three straight games to open the season, but played just 49 minutes in his last four contests as he dealt with a back injury. He was a second-team preseason All-Big East selection prior to the 2016-17 season.
During his sophomore campaign, he started all 33 games for the Hoyas, averaging 11.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game, ranking third on the team in scoring and second in both rebounds and assists. Copeland reached double figures 20 times, highlighted by a career-high 32-point, nine-rebound effort at Marquette, as he hit 13-of-20 shots from the field. He also had 23 points and eight rebounds against St. John's and a 21-point, six-rebound effort against Duke. He had three games with at least 20 points during his sophomore campaign.
He played in all 33 games as a freshman, making 11 starts, and earned a spot on the All-Big East Rookie Team. A three-time Big East Rookie of the Week, he averaged 6.8 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. He reached double figures 11 times, including a season-high 20-point, eight-carom effort at Seton Hall.
Copeland, who was rated the No. 16 player in the class of 2014 by ESPN and a five-star recruit by Rivals, helped lead Brewster Academy to the NEPSAC Class AAA championship and to the National Prep Championship in 2013-14. As a senior, he averaged 15.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.3 steals, 2.3 assists and 2.2 blocks and was an All-NEPSAC First Team selection in 2014. He was the Gatorade New Hampshire Boys Basketball Player of the Year in 2013-14. He was a teammate of former Husker guard Anton Gill at Ravenscroft High School, leading the school to the 2011-12 North Carolina 3A State Championship.
Personal
Isaac is the son of Sonya Williams Harris and Ike Copeland and was born on June 13, 1995, in Greenville, N.C. He has two brothers, Preston Copeland and Hunter Harris, and one sister, Pearce Copeland. Isaac earned his sociology degree in May of 2018 and is working on his master's degree. His father, Ike, played collegiately at East Carolina, helping the Pirates to the 1993 NCAA Tournament.