SAN JOSE >> Basketball talent Isaiah Ackerman received a couple scholarship offers from four-year universities before he finished his stellar career at Aptos High.

But Ackerman, a guard/forward who scored more than 1,000 points during his successful, three-year varsity career with the Mariners, elected to compete for a heralded community college in Saratoga instead.

“It’s a good choice,” Ackerman said. “I think JUCO is the better route for me.”

The two-time Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League MVP announced on social media that he has committed to West Valley College, winner of the 2024 CCCAA state title and a state-tournament qualifier the past four seasons under sixth-year head coach Danny Yoshikawa.

“He’s been here a while,” Ackerman said of his coach. “For obvious reasons, he’s had success here. He seems like a good coach and someone I can learn a lot from.”

Ackerman intends to add size and strength to his 6-foot-4, 180-pound frame. It was one of the main reasons he elected to go to a JUCO.

“The goal always is to try and get out in one year,” he said. “We’ll see what happens.”

Several schools in the Coast Conference scouted Ackerman and he had choices. He said he chose the Vikings over fellow powerhouse City College of San Francisco, a six-time state champion.

“West Valley is a top contender in all types of athletics,” he said. “It’s not super close to my house, but it’s only 40 minutes away. I don’t feel homesick.”

Ackerman has already moved to San Jose, where he shares a house with six teammates.

West Valley has earned a reputation for drawing some of the top student-athletes in the greater Bay Area, but Ackerman said the program’s reach is greater than he expected: He’s sharing a house with athletes from Turkey, England, Toronto, New York, and Monterey.

The Vikings have been participating in summer workouts for three weeks. Ackerman, who is playing guard, noted that the speed and physicality of the game have increased.

“It’s a lot different than high school and what we did at Aptos,” he said. “There’s a lot more screens and off-ball action.”

Yoshikawa said he had seen film of Ackerman playing, but never saw him in person in high school. Vikings assistants saw him play three times.

“We knew he was a good one,” Yoshikawa said. “He has a lot of upside. He’s long and athletic for his position. His pside is tremendous. It’s a a matter of time if we see his potentional. I think we will, because of his attitude and work ethic. He has tremendous talent. The apple didn’t fall far from the tree. His parents are tremendous people.”

Yoshikawa said Ackerman has a couple of things that you don’t teach: length, a feel for the game …

“And a high IQ. He has it,” his coach said.

Ackerman also has some things he’s working on.

“He needs to develop his handle and shooting, and grow into his body,” Yoshikawa said. “Once he does that, he’ll be pretty much unstoppable.”

Playing with such a talented group of athletes, Ackerman said he’s seeing daily improvement in his game. He said his game has benefitted on both offense and defense.

“There’s a lot of good people at West Valley,” he said. “It makes me want to compete more, to go out and prove myself.”

This past winter, Ackerman led the Mariners (25-6, 10-0) to their first unbeaten season in the SCCAL since 1986, the Central Coast Section III final, and the second round of the CIF NorCal Regional playoffs.

He averaged 20.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and two blocks despite playing a half or less in several of the Mariners’ blowouts.