Akok Akok

[crazyUCfan23]

Some of the negative/questioning comments about Akok surprise me. He is a consensus top 50 player right? What am I missing?

Recruting websites rank the top recruits in the country, but this is not necessarily the same thing as ranking the top 50 NBA prospects.

 

[auror]

He's a better pro prospect than he is a top recruit, IMO.

 

[AdamaNation]

Whether he's actually considering about going or not, this has been a great PR strategy. He's attracted national attention, possible unwarrantedly so, which definitely helps draft stock.

If he ends up coming to us this will help us. "High Schooler skips draft to attend UConn."

This “strategy “ has Kentucky/duke as plans b/c written all over it. I feel like a squids sea urchin perched itself on Akok’s shoulder and tempted him with this new focus. This could be a distraction as well next year that I’m not sure we want. Being a top 10 guy with nba aspirations is expected but anything below that is as much a crap shoot as second rounders.

 

[GHSWolverines]

He's a better pro prospect than he is a top recruit, IMO.

???

 

[WhereistheDove?]

???

I think the point is that his athletic traits outpace his basketball skills at this point. His one year in college may not be at a superstar level, but he'll get drafted based on being long, athletic, and with 3-point range, hoping that the skills to grow into a good NBA starter will come with experience.

 

[shazzketball]

I think the point is that his athletic traits outpace his basketball skills at this point. His one year in college may not be at a superstar level, but he'll get drafted based on being long, athletic, and with 3-point range, hoping that the skills to grow into a good NBA starter will come with experience.

Not sure if this has been said before, but he reminds me a lot of Jaren Jackson Jr. Long, raw, athletic big who shoots 3s, blocks shots, and runs the floor. Definitely not the prospect that Jackson was, and I think it's safe to say that he'll ever get there. A couple of years in college will give him a chance to polish his skills and show them on a national level. If he chooses UConn, I think Hurley will mold him into a pick and pop type that can guard 1-5, defend the rim, and get out on the break.

 

[auror]

???

I think the point is that his athletic traits outpace his basketball skills at this point. His one year in college may not be at a superstar level, but he'll get drafted based on being long, athletic, and with 3-point range, hoping that the skills to grow into a good NBA starter will come with experience.

Exactly. Recruiting rankings and draft potential are not congruent (although often the latter is one part of the former). He's not as polished and is unlikely to be an impact player on offense in the brief time he will be in school. But his skills are incredibly in demand at the NBA level. The league is moving towards starting 5 wings and switching everything while spacing 5 out on offense. He's the perfect NBA role player starter, much better than the college stars who are polished but athletically cant cut it in the NBA and whose skills don't translate. Athleticism and shooting translate. He'll need to work on his playmaking, passing, and close-out attacking, but he's got 2 of the 3 most coveted traits of the current NBA (defensive versatility and spacing).

So he's ranked ~30 in recruiting rankings, but I think he may be the ~20th most likely guy to get drafted from his HS class. Of note, doesn't mean he's one and done necessarily, just that he will get drafted at some point if he continues showing those traits at a high level.

 

[auror]

 

[Matt1010]

 

[gampelcrazies]

He is sitting front row behind the bench

 

[CardiacAndre7]

I wouldn’t read too much into it. We’ve had recruits show up for games and then bail

Seems like he’s going to like every game though

 

[uconngb]

He's starting to be around as much as Hamidou was.....and we all know how that turned out.

 

[husky429]

Somebody is creeping on this kid hard. If its anyone on the yard STOP. I hope it's a coach, good grief

 

[BFieldHusky]

Somebody is creeping on this kid hard. If its anyone on the yard STOP. I hope it's a coach, good grief

Seriously. Good sign he is here though.

 

[husky429]

Seriously. Good sign he is here though.

Looks like a coach, mentor or something. All good.

Sorry for making assumptions, yarders

 

[uchusky32]

Looks like a coach, mentor or something. All good.

Sorry for making assumptions, yarders

It's Chief!

 

[husky429]

It's Chief!

I picture chief as older, with less hygiene

 

[tcf15]

He sat on the UConn bench next to Mamadou for like 5 seconds lol

 

[Towney007]

Yeah he's almost trying to sit on the bench. That's good right?

 

[Towney007]

He stood up for the huddle. This is as entertaining as the game.

Should give him a jersey and see if anyone notices.

 

[SirHypeAlot]

that has to be a yarder that keeps talking to Akok

 

[tcf15]

He stood up for the huddle. This is as entertaining as the game.

Should give him a jersey and see if anyone notices.

#22 is available nevermind Hurley finally put him in

 

[UConnSwag11]

Somebody is creeping on this kid hard. If its anyone on the yard STOP. I hope it's a coach, good grief

What?

 

[kris1]

Ouch.

I was there. Not overly impressed with Akok Akok. He really struggled off the dribble and getting his shot off against smaller, quicker, stronger defenders. He’s extremely thin and will struggle to rebound against big, physical teams. He’s reminds me a lot of Ajou Deng. He’s skilled but I don’t see how he’s thinking about the NBA right now. He’s not even physically ready to play in college.

He’s not the kid on PSA I would want.

 

[Hoophound]

I was there. Not overly impressed with Akok Akok. He really struggled off the dribble and getting his shot off against smaller, quicker, stronger defenders. He’s extremely thin and will struggle to rebound against big, physical teams. He’s reminds me a lot of Ajou Deng. He’s skilled but I don’t see how he’s thinking about the NBA right now. He’s not even physically ready to play in college.

He’s not the kid on PSA I would want.

He’s all about potential. He needs to to gain strength and bulk, but the skills are elite. PSA has a couple guys that can play right away and we are after them too. No worries.