Jack Thompson is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Corona del Sol for AZPreps365.com. 

The mood brightens whenever Marcus and Isaac MacDonald walk into a room. The twin brothers' energy is just infectious in any room or setting they are in. 

Marcus and Isaac, the sons of Corona del Sol basketball coach Neil MacDonald, have been around a basketball gym for most of their lives. For Marcus, that first memory was when his dad was the head coach at Campo Verde. Isaac, however, remembers when MacDonald was an assistant coach at Mesquite. 

Now Marcus and Isaac are helping their dad at Corona del Sol, where MacDonald has been the head coach since 2015. Marcus helps by running the clock and keeping track of shooting drills. During games, Marcus will keep track of fouls and also let coach MacDonald know when the first horn goes off so Corona del Sol can avoid a delay of the game.

Isaac is Corona del Sol’s video coordinator, filming Corona’s practices and games. Isaac then uploads the film onto the Hudl account. Isaac also helps with video exchange, which is when a team exchanges film with the coach of an opponent. MacDonald said their roles are much bigger than just the jobs they do. 

“Their role really is to keep everyone in check,'' MacDonald said. "They keep everything in perspective for me and everybody else. No. 1, they make sure we do things right. They make sure we are paying attention to how things are supposed to be done. They are a constant reminder of how privileged we are to do what we do."

But Marcus and Isaac’s presence is so much more than their jobs for the Corona del Sol basketball team. MacDonald mentioned that he wants to be like Marcus and Isaac when he grows up, which tells you about the positive energy they bring.

“I have my Autism Awareness band on everyday and people think I wear it because I want to raise awareness, and I am. It’s April, it’s Autism Awareness month. I wear it year-round, every day, everywhere I go, but it’s really not for everybody else. It’s for me to look down and be reminded of the things they bring,” MacDonald said.

A positive attitude, as well as a championship mindset, is something both Marcus and Isaac brought when asked what they try to bring every day. Something that their dad has especially noticed.

“Their outlook on everything is so positive that you can’t be in a bad mood around them. It’s just not possible even when they get angry, which doesn’t last long, you still can’t be in a bad mood around them,” MacDonald said. 

That positive outlook is very apparent when you talk to Marcus and Isaac, which has helped the twin brothers be a part of many good teams, including a state championship with Gilbert in 2019 as senior student managers for the Tigers.

“One of my favorites was having fun with the team that we actually know some of the guys from, so some of the guys we knew were from junior high. We were able to continue to bring positive energy, enthusiasm, and a championship mindset to the Gilbert Tigers basketball program,” Marcus said.

That season included a special moment for Marcus and Isaac, on Senior Night when the twin brothers got to suit up. Marcus and Isaac subbed in during the final minute of play that night, which saw both twin brothers score. Marcus got a little sibling bragging rights by scoring at the buzzer.

“There were people there that night, for the Senior Night, that came just to see them. Teachers that normally don’t go came just to see them. I mean, I cried like a baby, I won’t lie. It was the best thing I had seen at a high school basketball game,” MacDonald said.

Multiple news services went to that game to see Marcus and Isaac in action. Higley head coach Jerome Joseph called a timeout in the last minute so Marcus and Isaac could sub into the game. Joseph told the East Valley Tribune that when he saw the game was out of hand he wanted to give Marcus and Isaac an opportunity to play.

You won’t see Marcus and Isaac at just Corona del Sol basketball games, as the twin brothers love to bring their positive energy wherever they go. Marcus said he enjoys attending basketball, volleyball, baseball, and football games at Corona del Sol. At the same time, Isaac mentioned basketball, baseball and football games as his favorite events. 

“When they show up the staff, security guards everyone gets a hug, a fist bump, a high-five. Everybody knows who they are. Everyone lights up when they see them,” MacDonald said. 

Marcus is currently enrolled at Mesa Community College, where he is taking classes for journalism.

Isaac is enrolled Chandler-Gilbert Community College and hopes to pursue a career in the aviation industry as a customer service worker.