James Akinjo

[superjohn]

Akinjo is going to be terrific. The kid is a winner - would love to have him here.

The other two recruits we lost look like projects - Matthews DNP’d in West Virginia’s first game and Kasunas has played sparingly in Stanford’s first few games.

Give us back Enoch, Vance and Akinjo and Hurley would make magic this year.

Vance can be a pretty good offensive player but he wouldn't be a real fit for what Hurley is doing, Sid and the guy coming in should be better by a wide margin.

 

[tcf15]

Maybe our ideas of "great" are just different. Jalen has these games in his sleep

But Akinjo is doing this on the road in just his third collegiate game.

 

[MDHuskFan]

LOL, can Akinjo play center? If Ollie stays, 320 pound Cobb is our starting center.

Biggest thing I hate about this take is the fact that Ollie proved he couldn’t develop talent. Akinjo is not a 1 & Done & he would be the exact same player today as he’d be in 2020 under KO tutelage.

For all the warranted/unwarranted criticism Jalen has rec’d for lack of development, he’s a superbly more naturally gifted player than Akinjo. His lack of development doesn’t make me feel remorseful that ill Miss on a few years of THAT James.

 

[AntG168]

But Akinjo is doing this on the road in just his third collegiate game.

Yes, he was good. It wasnt a "great" performance. 5 TO to 7 assist isn't great. What Zion is doing is "great". The kid definitely has guts. I'd love to have him, he's going to be a problem for yrs. Shabazz-esque

 

[UConnRock]

Fishy nailed it! Of the 3 Ollie recruits, Akinjo was the only one that would have come in ready to contribute. However he came in at a position of strength with Adams and AG. The playing time for Akinjo would have been limited.

Ollie could get top PGs like AG and Akinjo because of his background, but the rest of his recruiting was chasing 3-stars like Matthews, Kisunas and others from the previous class. Why Akinjo wasn’t drawn to what Hurley was selling is a mystery, but I am sure playing time at GT was appealing

 

[Fishy]

Vance can be a pretty good offensive player but he wouldn't be a real fit for what Hurley is doing, Sid and the guy coming in should be better by a wide margin.

A 6’8” guy who can shoot, pass and rebound is a fit for everything Hurley is doing.

Give him a coach who isn’t an indifferent jackass and see what he can do. (He just went for 18 and 12 against Iona a few minutes ago.)

 

[MDHuskFan]

A 6’8” guy who can shoot, pass and rebound is a fit for everything Hurley is doing.

Give him a coach who isn’t an indifferent jackass and see what he can do. (He just went for 18 and 12 against Iona a few minutes ago.)

Yeah.... to tag onto this, for anyone that looked at the shape/athleticism of Vance his freshman year.... please see the Eric Cobb Transformation. I salivate at a potential Small ball positionless lineup of AG, Jalen, T.Smith/Vital, Sid & Vance for short spurts

 

[Horatio]

I think the players that decomitted or transfered got replaced with equal talent for this season and next. Vance = Sid , Tarin Smith / Gaffney = Akinjo , Carlton = Enoch.
You can argue that Enoch is better than Carlton and Durham wasn’t replaced but then that’ll get cancelled out if we get any of the post guys we’re recruiting. Say what you want. I’m still gonna watch the guys that are gone but I don’t look at it as if any of those guys are better than what we have and may be getting.

 

[superjohn]

A 6’8” guy who can shoot, pass and rebound is a fit for everything Hurley is doing.

Give him a coach who isn’t an indifferent jackass and see what he can do. (He just went for 18 and 12 against Iona a few minutes ago.)

As I said I like Vance on offense but his foot speed isn't a great fit for our pressure defense. He would certainly be a help right now but going forward I think Sid and the guy coming in will fit better. I'm happy for Vance and the others that they left, they loved the program but they knew they weren't going to develop.

 

[tentoes4rings]

A 6’8” guy who can shoot, pass and rebound is a fit for everything Hurley is doing.

Give him a coach who isn’t an indifferent jackass and see what he can do. (He just went for 18 and 12 against Iona a few minutes ago.)

Of all the transfers, I always felt Vance was the guy that was going to really sting. Good size, great 3 pt potential, he would have brought an extra dimension to this team. I don’t blame the kid for leaving the previous administration, wish him luck.

 

[superjohn]

I think the players that decomitted or transfered got replaced with equal talent for this season and next. Vance = Sid , Tarin Smith / Gaffney = Akinjo , Carlton = Enoch.
You can argue that Enoch is better than Carlton and Durham wasn’t replaced but then that’ll get cancelled out if we get any of the post guys we’re recruiting. Say what you want. I’m still gonna watch the guys that are gone but I don’t look at it as if any of those guys are better than what we have and may be getting.

They are all good players, we knew that. It's why it was so dumb that people on this board were blaming Enoch and Vance. They all got the hell out of here for one reason, coach Ollie. I'll happily root for their careers but don't care about losing them. it was good for them and will be good for us. We have enough to win now and are going to win big pretty soon.

Glad we aren't stuck with MAL wasting a scholarship.

 

[MDHuskFan]

They are all good players, we knew that. It's why it was so dumb that people on this board were blaming Enoch and Vance. They all got the hell out of here for one reason, coach Ollie. I'll happily root for their careers but don't care about losing them. it was good for them and will be good for us. We have enough to win now and are going to win big pretty soon.

Glad we aren't stuck with MAL wasting a scholarship.

How many great HS guards who can’t shoot learn how to do so in college? (Serious question)

Broad generalization, but Seems like littles who rely on athleticism in HS get to college and struggle more with the increased size/speed of d1 ball. Beyond not being able to blow by people, they get less space on jumpers, in turn resulting in worse shooting %’s.

 

[AntG168]

How many great HS guards who can’t shoot learn how to do so in college? (Serious question)

Broad generalization, but Seems like littles who rely on athleticism in HS get to college and struggle more with the increased size/speed of d1 ball. Beyond not being able to blow by people, they get less space on jumpers, in turn resulting in worse shooting %’s.

Kemba is one that comes to mind

 

[Fishy]

I think the players that decomitted or transfered got replaced with equal talent for this season and next. Vance = Sid , Tarin Smith / Gaffney = Akinjo , Carlton = Enoch.
You can argue that Enoch is better than Carlton and Durham wasn’t replaced but then that’ll get cancelled out if we get any of the post guys we’re recruiting. Say what you want. I’m still gonna watch the guys that are gone but I don’t look at it as if any of those guys are better than what we have and may be getting.

You don’t replace Enoch with Carlton.

We had both and then one left...and we never replaced him. We had Jackson and Polley and then one left....and so on. Our front court depth is so bad because we lost players and never replaced them. (Or we replaced them with stretch recruiting.)

 

[MDHuskFan]

Kemba is one that comes to mind

Fair,Kemba seems more exception than the norm though doesn’t he. I meant this more referring to MAL. Kemba even as a Sophomore shot pretty damn terribly.

MAL isn’t a 1&done, 2 & done or potentionally not a next level player at all. Just wouldn’t write him off, players with his skill set seem to take a moment longer to develop. That being said, they also are accountable to develop their game & improve shooting.

 

[Fishy]

Fair,Kemba seems more exception than the norm though doesn’t he. I meant this more referring to MAL. Kemba even as a Sophomore shot pretty damn terribly.

MAL isn’t a 1&done, 2 & done or potentionally not a next level player at all. Just wouldn’t write him off, players with his skill set seem to take a moment longer to develop. That being said, they also are accountable to develop their game & improve shooting.

Unfortunately, he’s just not very good and he’s in a bad situation. His minutes are starting to dwindle - he played six minutes tonight. And he can’t shoot a lick - he’s something like 3-30 on threes in his career and his shot just looks brutal.

He’s fallen off the table - I’ll be surprised if he’s at Providence in the second semester and shocked if he’s there next year.

We’re lucky to have avoided that one.

 

[MDHuskFan]

Unfortunately, he’s just not very good and he’s in a bad situation. His minutes are starting to dwindle - he played six minutes tonight. And he can’t shoot a lick - he’s something like 3-30 on threes in his career and his shot just looks brutal.

He’s fallen off the table - I’ll be surprised if he’s at Providence in the second semester and shocked if he’s there next year.

We’re lucky to have avoided that one.

Can’t disagree at all. Where he was ranked with his skills set seemed like the greatest boom or bust. Unfortunately we know what side the fence he fell

 

[Burnsbros23]

Akinjo was very good tonight. Looks to have gotten much stronger. McClung also is going to be very good at Georgetown big east is way down they could have a nice year. Ayo dosumnu who we lightly recruited also looked great tonight.

As long as alterique stays healthy he will be great.

Vance and dad seemed to be a bit much. Maybe it was Ollie tho. He bounced around high school and AAU tho I’m guessing cause of dad.

Enoch under Hurley could of been really good.

 

[Chief00]

eh i watched it he wasnt "great". He made some good plays down the stretch. He will be a great player though

A Blaze recruit. A moment in a bottle.

 

[Chief00]

A 6’8” guy who can shoot, pass and rebound is a fit for everything Hurley is doing.

Give him a coach who isn’t an indifferent jackass and see what he can do. (He just went for 18 and 12 against Iona a few minutes ago.)

True, shooting and rebounding are difference makers.

 

[Chief00]

Akinjo was very good tonight. Looks to have gotten much stronger. McClung also is going to be very good at Georgetown big east is way down they could have a nice year. Ayo dosumnu who we lightly recruited also looked great tonight.

As long as alterique stays healthy he will be great.

Vance and dad seemed to be a bit much. Maybe it was Ollie tho. He bounced around high school and AAU tho I’m guessing cause of dad.

Enoch under Hurley could of been really good.

Good post - in particular the Enoch comment.

 

[CTBasketball]

Akinjo looked inspiring. He would have been sixth man off the bench for this team - I would rather have Tarin Smith because he’s a smarter basketball player and brings experience.

We’re gonna have a raw backcourt next year and Akinjo would have aided in that category though. But I think we need W’s now.

 

[Hoophound]

Akinjo looked inspiring. He would have been sixth man off the bench for this team - I would rather have Tarin Smith because he’s a smarter basketball player and brings experience.

We’re gonna have a raw backcourt next year and Akinjo would have aided in that category though. But I think we need W’s now.

Unless you mean “raw” as in awesome, I don’t see it. Yes, we lose Jalen and Tarin, but will still have Alterique, Christian and Brendon Adams along with freshmen Gaffney and Bouknight. No one is going to feel sorry for us with that backcourt. If we get another grad transfer at guard with some size, we’ll have an absolute embarrassment of riches. Don’t underestimate the one year jump we’ll see from Brendon Adams. Kid will be good.

 

[Pudge]

Enoch is the kid many here were wrong about. I agree with the comments ... his own self motivation was poor. But his size & skill set is visually awesome.

A career development coach - which is where Mack then Hurley fits a profile - would bring Enoch to draftable NBA talent from his raw talent. A Connecticut kid. We can dump on Ollie for a decade; weirdest arc of most any CBB I can think about. He lacked the full complement of being that college coach. I would think Mark Price or Terry Porter may be equally pegged. But ... Ollie was on a bigger stage.

 

[Ricker]

Against Central CT Akinjo was out of control, took some bad shots, and was as sloppy with the ball as Gilbert was in the last couple minutes of the Morehead State game. Didn't see Illinois. Confident they will both have great games. I wanted Akinjo but I do feel he has been 'replaced'. I thought Kisunas played great against North Carolina in the minutes I saw channel flipping. I have watched him a number of times at Brewster and posted my evaluation that he was an adequate rotation player but not the impact scoring player in the front court that we needed. On the other hand, he looks like he has added weight and power and will give Stanford everything that Jake Voskuhl gave us. His basket was running the floor on the break. Stats don't show it, but he conducted himself against UNC like he owned the defensive paint. UNC. Some rebounds went to teammates because he was keeping UNC rebounders off the glass. You need impact players around him but we did not 'replace' him for this year and he might have been just the power low post player this year's team needs, and the rotation player when our front court stars commit. Plus, he would still be here if our potential 5 stars move on to nba careers early.