Isaiah Stafford: Will he or won’t he?

MBB: Valparaiso’s leading returning scorer is running and jumping, but will he be cleared?

Isaiah Stafford sprinted down the court, jumped up and touched the rim with both hands earlier this month.

Normally that statement wouldn’t register much of a reaction in the Valparaiso basketball offices, but given the mystery surrounding Stafford’s availability for the upcoming season, it could be a game changer. Or it could mean nothing.

Stafford underwent surgery to repair a partially torn knee ligament in May and he’s been rehabbing ever since. The process has been grueling, with some high highs and low lows. There have been moments during the offseason when he’s been all but ruled out for playing during the 2024-25 season, but then there are moments when he looks like he could check in a game and drop 30 points tomorrow.

Valparaiso coach Roger Powell Jr. has been careful not to rule out Stafford, but he’s also not acting like Stafford is playing this season. For instance, Stafford’s name was not included among nominees for Preseason All-League honors in the Missouri Valley Conference. Stafford also wasn’t part of Valparaiso’s Media Day press conference on Wednesday. That distinction went to Cooper Schwieger and Darius DeAveiro, the two players that were nominated for preseason Valley awards.

The Victory Bell sat down with Stafford for an exclusive interview during Valparaiso’s Media Day and got it straight from the source whether or not the senior guard intends to play this season.