Sounds like Isaiah Briscoe could be making his collegiate decision sooner than originally thought. He had said over the summer that he'd likely wait until the spring to make his choice, but now is saying that his decision could come "soon."

And it sounds like UConn and Kentucky are the two front-runners.

Briscoe, a point guard out of Roselle Catholic in New Jersey, visited both schools recently. He speaks glowingly of Kevin Ollie and his entire UConn visit, and while it's impossible to know how much of a factor this will play, it's worth noting that Jim Salmon, Briscoe's New Jersey Playaz AAU coach, coached Kevin Freeman for a season at Paterson Catholic and thinks the world of Freeman.

Elsewhere, it appears UConn is already in on one of the top big men from the Class of 2018, Marvin Bagley III, a 6-foot-10 center from Tempe, Arizona.

6-10 fr marvin bagley III from tempe, ariz.-- who has yet to play a varsity game-- was best young talent at usa bb mini-camp at the springs
— Dick Weiss (@HoopsWeiss) October 6, 2014

bagley-- class of '18-- already has offers from uconn, arizona, several others.
— Dick Weiss (@HoopsWeiss) October 6, 2014

As part of a story we did this week on UConn's prime recruiting targets, we spoke with Jim Salmon, who coaches Husky target Isaiah Briscoe on the New Jersey Playaz AAU team -- and also happened to coach UConn director of basketball administration Kevin Freeman at Paterson Catholic back in the day.

Here's what Salmon had to say about Briscoe:

"He’s fearless, he’s two plays ahead on the floor. He’d rather give an assist or a Gretzky – the pass before the assist – rather than scoring. This year, he’s put the team on his back. He’s led us all season. He passed out uniforms, collects them after game, washes them, wakes his teammates up in the hotel room. He’s like an assistant coach for us ... He's an ideal teammate."

Briscoe put out a list recently of his final seven schools: UConn, Arizona, Louisville, St. John's, Seton Hall, Rutgers and Villanova. However, he's not likely to start seriously considering anyone until August, at the earliest. He's already an academic qualifier, according to Salmon.

"All the teams have a shot," Salmon said. "He's got a different relationship with at least one person on the staff of all the schools. I'm sure (his dad) is taking the calls right now, but I don't think he's there. He's really tuned in and trying to win." 

As for UConn?

"Kevin Freeman used to play for me," Salmon noted. "I'd be delighted if he went to UConn."