- Joined
- Aug 29, 2011
- Messages
- 439
- Reaction Score
- 1,678
I was very close by when the torn achilles ripped the air out of the XL Center that night vs. Memphis. I’ve written about it. It became a play within a play directly in front of the Huskies bench. Lead actor was a young man whose season was lost and future cast in doubt as he crumbled to the floor and time bizarrely quieted. Supporting actor a despairingly sad coach who immediately recognized the severe injury and in a second processed what it would mean to the young man now, his future and his team having to absorb the loss of this highly ranked recruit for maybe forever. The chorus players split, breaking in different directions to help and comfort while some somberly prayed. The audience was stunned silent. This was a night vs. a ranked team in a packed building. Recruits were there for this big game including the captivated now-commit Donovan Clingan and his dad. The love our extended team showed for young Akok Akok was not lost on any of them.
What we had seen to that point of Akok was akin to the smooth young colt. Wonderfully agile but making missteps that are never egregious enough to make you turn away – you are eager to see more. The comeback story is ready to be written. Sure to say there will be plenty of eyeballs turned his way this season.
Five Things we have seen:
Five Things we expect:
Summary:
What we had seen to that point of Akok was akin to the smooth young colt. Wonderfully agile but making missteps that are never egregious enough to make you turn away – you are eager to see more. The comeback story is ready to be written. Sure to say there will be plenty of eyeballs turned his way this season.
Five Things we have seen:
* Fire burns for 94 feet. Ready to run at all times.
* Constantly angling, looking for the spot to do damage.
* Beyond exploring the ‘3’ hasn’t shown much offensively but hasn’t had much time to discover his chances.
* Nice shot mechanics.
* Explosive. Rim protecting already. Peeks at attacking offensively.
Five Things we expect:
* Slow up-and-down progress. The time off, the rehab and a certain uncertainty. Needs to grow back confidence in his heel.
* Key protector component in our Blue Dome Defense down low.
* Outlet for Adama when doubled but depends on his ‘3’ going down.
* Improved strength given his rehab. Not a stringbean, he has that sinewy strength but is he ready to shed defenders underneath?
* Freshman year redux. Concentration on defense and the ‘3’ with eyes open for other opportunities.
Summary:
Our expectations are up knowing what he absolutely can and may do but are tempered by the dicey comeback from an achilles tear. KD looked fantastic coming back, I hope AA watched a lot of Nets last season. His talent level is high but it’s likely to take a while before he starts showing finely tuned skills near the hoop. I do envision the game he provides such a boost that maybe after getting fouled hard the four on the floor each grab a limb and toss him up to a resounding home crowd crescendo.