Akok considering skipping NCAA, entering NBA Draft | Page 3 | The Boneyard

Akok considering skipping NCAA, entering NBA Draft

Interesting he said that he has been thinking about it since July. So while it is news to us, it is not new to the process/situation. He still took all his OV’s and will (hopefully) be making a decision soon. So, now there are 6 options in the mix instead of 5 - UConn, Pitt, G’town, ‘Cuse, PC and NBA draft. Personally, I don’t think anyone really knows what he will do, but I do feel our chances to get him are the same as they were earlier today.
 
Marbles90 said:
Interesting he said that he has been thinking about it since July. So while it is news to us, it is not new to the process/situation. He still took all his OV’s and will (hopefully) be making a decision soon. So, now there are 6 options in the mix instead of 5 - UConn, Pitt, G’town, ‘Cuse, PC and NBA draft. Personally, I don’t think anyone really knows what he will do, but I do feel our chances to get him are the same as they were earlier today.
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Also means the coaching staff has known this and has been recruiting as such.

I understand different players but to me if Mitchell Robinson didn’t go in the first round, I just don’t see it for Akok. He needs to put on some serious size and hasn’t faced enough competition to warrant taking a chance on him in the first round. Way too much on the line for NBA GMs.
 
can we mail Karim Coulibaly an offer in the morning? it should get to Mali in time for the spring signing period.

crisis averted.
 
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bendm said:
can we mail Karim Coulibaly an offer in the morning? it should get to Mali in time for the spring signing period.

crisis averted.
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He's playing prep ball in Southern PA.

Something's off here.
 
tcf15 said:
Should've seen this coming since he just started following the NBA on Twitter and Instagram.
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The whole thing about not deciding until spring and only having bothered with one official visit (which confused a lot of us) makes a lot more sense now.
 
Rocktheworld said:
The whole thing about not deciding until spring and only having bothered with one official (which confused a lot of us) makes a lot more sense now.
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What do you mean one official?
 
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bmayuc said:
You obviously have no clue about NBA basketball then. Draft is based on potential and projection, not productio.

Akok's 3 biggest assets: Length, 3 pt shooting and Rim Protection
NBAs 3 most valued assets: Length, 3 pt shooting and Rim Protection
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Oh I don't? Good one. I said he has potential and I am well aware that the NBA drafts on that. There are 60 players that are flat out better than him. I don't like rankings, but he is a top 40 recruit by most "experts"...and what about all the college and foreign guys who are proven and have potential? He has all the intangibles but isn't ready. I still think Kofi and Precious would be drafted ahead him at this point, they have loads of potential too.
 
huskyfan224 said:
I really don’t see him getting drafted. He had a good summer and shot up the rankings, and based off videos he is nowhere near an NBA level talent yet. Sure, the potential is there, but he plays no competition compared to college or G league. I still want him, Kofi, and Precious. If all three tested the waters right now, those two would be ahead of Akok.
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If we are guaranteed a single one year player I would hope it’s a consensus precious commit.
 
Chief00 said:
Quite frankly, the post graduate year in prep school seldom makes sense to Chief, for a 4 or 5 star. Drummond figured it out in August after some guidance; and went to UConn. Bottom line, he became a top 10 pick and became an NBA All Star game player. Go to college and develop there.
At any rate, we are where we are. This has been going on for awhile and is now unfortunately public. On one level to a family and those connected to Akok the preceive NBA riches is the easy answer.
At the end of the day, I expect him at UConn. His family will be better off in the long run.
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Sadly chief very few have the foresight of small goals leading to the big goals and Drummond may be the last unicorn in that regard. Too many talking heads in the face of kids with legit nba dreams that are out for self. If the kid is d league for life on to the next. Have any of these guys seen new jack city and how nino did gee money? Ain’t no loyalty out here!!!!!
 
superjohn said:
Don't know why this is so difficult for some to understand. We haven't really been sending kids to the pros in a while and now we have people worried about us getting kids who will be future pros. The better players leave earlier for the NBA and then you reaload with other great players.
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Oh.
 
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bmayuc said:
You obviously have no clue about NBA basketball then. Draft is based on potential and projection, not productio.

Akok's 3 biggest assets: Length, 3 pt shooting and Rim Protection
NBAs 3 most valued assets: Length, 3 pt shooting and Rim Protection
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Didn't we have recent player named Daniels? Didn't he have length, 3 point shooting, rim protection etc. How did it work out for him? This is not a skills or athletic ability decision. This is a "playing at a high level for a long time" decision. I played in Hartford in pick up games with Rick Mahorn. While that was then and this is now, Akok is not ready for the NBA, but he can be. Those guys, even then, and who are not as good as the players today played a punishing game. Most don't get more than one solid chance. If I was as good as him I'd want to be take every opportunity to maximize my chance
 
Huskyforlife said:
At this point, you’re trying to be obnoxious.
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Stainmaster said:
He's playing prep ball in Southern PA.

Something's off here.
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Coulibaly is still from Mali, and if you wanna read that far into it- mail doesn't take 5 months to reach Africa either...

But either way, I was only half joking because there is no other backup plan for akok.

Idk why there's such an aversion to 3 star recruits. Jeremiah Francis just committed to UNC today and he's a 3 star!

Would getting Wahab and Coulibaly be the dream scenario everyone hoped for? Of course not, but 3 stars are still better than none.
 
uconn34 said:
Didn't we have recent player named Daniels? Didn't he have length, 3 point shooting, rim protection etc. How did it work out for him? This is not a skills or athletic ability decision. This is a "playing at a high level for a long time" decision. I played in Hartford in pick up games with Rick Mahorn. While that was then and this is now, Akok is not ready for the NBA, but he can be. Those guys, even then, and who are not as good as the players today played a punishing game. Most don't get more than one solid chance. If I was as good as him I'd want to be take every opportunity to maximize my chance
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Deandre Daniels was a lot of things, a rim protector was not one of them
 
huskyfan224 said:
I really don’t see him getting drafted. He had a good summer and shot up the rankings, and based off videos he is nowhere near an NBA level talent yet. Sure, the potential is there, but he plays no competition compared to college or G league. I still want him, Kofi, and Precious. If all three tested the waters right now, those two would be ahead of Akok.
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Precious maybe. Not Kofi
 
uconn34 said:
Didn't we have recent player named Daniels? Didn't he have length, 3 point shooting, rim protection etc. How did it work out for him? This is not a skills or athletic ability decision. This is a "playing at a high level for a long time" decision. I played in Hartford in pick up games with Rick Mahorn. While that was then and this is now, Akok is not ready for the NBA, but he can be. Those guys, even then, and who are not as good as the players today played a punishing game. Most don't get more than one solid chance. If I was as good as him I'd want to be take every opportunity to maximize my chance
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1. Daniels came out 4 years ago(more?), before the explosion of NBA 3&D, Pace&Space, etc really took off. Also, he was an upperclassmen, and in fact you could argue that as a top 20 high school recruit, going to college actually decreased his NBA stock because he was exposed as pretty soft, questionable motor, no handle, etc.

2. DeAndre is making more $$ every year playing basketball and traveling the world than you or I are, so I'd say it worked out pretty good for him.

3. No 18-19 year old not named LeBron James is "ready" for the NBA. This is not about that. Its about what is the path that this kid wants to travel to A) Live the life he wants to live and B)Maximize his game and his C)Maximize his earning power.

4) Yes, that was then and this is now.

5) "Want to take every opportunity to maximize my chance" - There is no real proof that going to college advances this. Arguably, it would be better and more lucrative to take the leap now. Maybe the kid wants to train 50 hours/week now to be the best player he can be, rather than take 20 hours of classes and have strict NCAA limitations on the quantity of practice that he can take.

Just demonstrating how so many of us premise our opinions of kids decisions from the assumption that going to college is "better" for them, and really we have to ask ourselves... Is that the case, really?

**With that being said, Hey Akok come to UConn please**
 
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I tend to think of kids nba dreams as being the dreams of being drafted and making $$millions. Akok could just be thinking that having some money in his pocket making $60000 to $125000 for the next couple years is a better way to build his game to chase the millions, than being broke in college. It's possible his draft status may not be what drives his decision to be a pro. Committing to UConn this fall sounds like we couldn't really celebrate until he actually shows up for classes. That's disappointing.
 
tcf15 said:
Should've seen this coming since he just started following the NBA on Twitter and Instagram.
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I’m sorry I can’t stop laughing, and now I’m coughing, I can’t stop laughing and coughing. Now I’m crying. I can’t stop laughing and coughing and crying. Well done sir, perfection!
 
navery12 said:
Deandre Daniels was a lot of things, a rim protector was not one of them
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What? Deandre Daniel average 1.5 and 1.4 the two years he got significant minutes. He was definitely a decent rim protector and remember him and Brimah being huge for our defense in our championship season. He got 2 big blocks in the Championship game against Kentucky. He wasn't at Brimah's level but he also wasn't 7'0" tall. He actually played good defense including blocking shots while at UCONN.

I remember Daniel's for his outside shooting and his ability to score inside couple with the blocked shots on defense. He wasn't a great rebounder but decent.
 
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