For much of last season, Isaiah Brickner was a role player.
He came off the bench and contributed as a complementary piece in the backcourt for the Idaho Vandals. The flashes of greatness were there, but consistency and opportunity had yet to fully align.
One year later, Brickner has a new role in Idaho’s rotation.
Now in his senior season, Brickner has emerged as one of the team’s most efficient offensive players, averaging 11.7 points and 3.7 rebounds per game while shooting 52.9% from the field and 45.5% from three-point range. After averaging just 4.1 points per game last season, Brickner has made the most of every opportunity he has earned this season.
“I would just say my mindset is more consistent,” Brickner said. “I had some good games last year, good spurts, but I wasn’t doing it for the whole game. This year, knowing it’s my last opportunity, I just wanted to give it my all every time I’m on the court.”
Entering the season, Idaho expected to lean heavily on returning scoring production from its backcourt. That plan shifted quickly when veteran guard Kristian Gonzalez, the team’s top returning scorer from last season, was sidelined after the season opener.
The adjustment forced multiple players into larger roles, including Brickner. Rather than changing his approach dramatically, Brickner has thrived in his newfound role.
“I feel like I’ve kind of been the same player,” Brickner said. “I just have more opportunity this year to show what I can do.”
Brickner has come into his own in conference play, averaging 14 points per game and leading the team in points per minute. His efficiency has made him one of Idaho’s most reliable scoring options.
A large part of that improvement comes from understanding his role within the offense.
“Shot selection has been huge,” Brickner said. “Watching film, knowing where I’m getting my shots and just taking the right ones.”
The result has been one of the most efficient seasons of his collegiate career.
Brickner’s path to Idaho began at Marist College, where he spent two seasons before transferring prior to the 2024-25 campaign.
Last season became a learning year for Brickner as he acclimated to the Idaho program.
“Nothing really changed that much from what I was doing last year,” Brickner said. “I just have more opportunity now.”
That patience has paid off. With increased minutes this season, Brickner has translated his scoring instincts into consistent production, especially when Idaho needs momentum offensively.
Throughout the season, Brickner has developed a reputation as one of Idaho’s most reliable momentum-shifters.
“I took pride in being that spark,” Brickner said. “Instant energy, instant offense, just giving whatever the team needed.”
Even with increased playing time, Brickner said he still approaches possessions with that same mentality.
“I’m still trying to keep that chip on my shoulder,” he said. “Making sure I bring energy every time I’m on the floor.”
Brickner leads all guards on the roster in field-goal percentage and ranks among the conference’s top perimeter shooters. His ability to score without forcing shots has helped stabilize Idaho’s offense during both scoring runs and scoring droughts.
As one of the team’s four seniors, Brickner’s role extends beyond scoring.
He is part of a veteran core guiding a roster that includes multiple younger contributors. That responsibility has grown as Idaho navigates a tightly packed Big Sky Conference standings race.
The Vandals experienced a midseason slump before responding with a strong performance against Idaho State, a moment Brickner said reflected the team’s confidence in its potential.
“We know what we have in the locker room,” Brickner said. “We just had to stay confident and trust what we do every day.”
He described the group as both competitive, emphasizing the depth within Idaho’s backcourt rotation.
“On any given night, it can be any one of us,” Brickner said. “We’re unselfish, and we trust each other.”
For Brickner, the timing of his breakout carries additional meaning.
Senior seasons often represent a final opportunity to define a collegiate career, and Brickner has embraced that.
“It means a lot,” Brickner said. “Playing in front of these fans, playing with my teammates. I love playing for these guys… It’s honestly so fun to come out here and go to work with these guys every single day.”
As Idaho approaches the final stretch of the regular season, Brickner believes the focus remains simple: consistency and momentum.
“It’s about hitting our stride at the right time,” he said.
That goal mirrors his own development arc this season of steady improvement built through opportunity.
After beginning last year as a role player off the bench, Brickner has turned his senior season into his most productive stretch of college basketball, becoming one of Idaho’s most efficient scorers and a key piece of the team’s offensive identity.