Catching up with Josh Akognon

by Grady. on Feb 27, 2009 12:00 PM PST in Cougar Basketball Comment 7 comments

NBA Draft.net has an interesting interview with Akognon. Notable quotes regarding his time at WSU:

NBADraft.net: You began your college career with Washington State, what made you decide to transfer?

Josh Akognon: I’d say the tempo at Washington State, they average about 50 points per game. I just wanted to get out and play a little bit faster than that. Everything else around the program was great but I wanted to go back to the style I played in high school, and get the same notoriety so I decided to go back to that style.

NBADraft.net: Elaborate a little further on the differences between Fullerton State and Washington State both in terms of coaching style and off court?

Josh Akognon: The coaching styles are completely different. The mentalities are different. Washington State was defense, defense, defense. And in some ways it felt like if we never went down on the offensive end it would be ok because we would stop them every time. Here we just try to run them out of the gym and keep their percentages down. We know we’re gonna score so it’s all about just keeping their numbers (percentages) down. We try to score every time and then get them so that by the end they don’t have the energy to defend. When I first got here I was just blown away at how much energy was put on offense.

See? No hard feelings for him towards us, and vice versa.

By the way, NBADraft.net currently projects Akognon going in the second round, #56 overall to San Antonio. That seems about right.

I still don't get why Akognon doesn't think he could have been an offensive star here. Although that's a different story for a different day.

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Because you have news media

who point out the KT is 2nd in scoring as a freshman behind Isiah Thomas, and not first. Let’s remember, the media goes with the easy stats and not eFG%, etc. I hate every time when people bash our guys for avg a measley 13 pts a game. Our guys generally will not be first in any category that requires totaling (pts, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks).

by ptowncoug3012 on Feb 27, 2009 12:39 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

That is why you are right at home here

Where using per game averages are punishable by bamboo lashings.

by Dancing Football on Feb 27, 2009 2:12 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn't trade Klay Thompson for

ANY other freshman in the country. When he develops his whole game he’s going to be a sight to behold. If I’m not mistaken, wasn’t it he who pretty much shut down Chase Budinger, holding him to single digits? I wasn’t too happy with all the turnovers in the first half, but he was nails after hitting that three before intermission and besides his great D, he also hit some big shots in the 2nd half.

by SW WA Coug on Feb 27, 2009 2:22 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Klay did really well on Budinger

A huge part of the problem for us last year when we were swept by Arizona is that we’d put Weaver on Jerryd Bayless, which was a good move, but left us with no one that could handle Budinger. This year we have Klay, and it was huge to have a defender with an equal height playing Chase

Of course Klay didn’t start the game on Budinger – it was Harmeling, and I’m stunned AZ didn’t exploit that matchup. Klay spent some time on Nic Wise, but that was never going to work due to how quick Wise is. Capers ended up being by far the best option there, with Taylor a close second.

by Grady. on Feb 27, 2009 4:38 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Harmeling on Budinger

Makes me cringe. Good fundies but no foot speed.

by Dancing Football on Feb 27, 2009 4:42 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Budinger hit two three when Harmeling was guarding him early in the game I believe.

by cfred on Feb 27, 2009 8:19 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Scouting report

It has been awhile but I read a report on Josh that his chances in the NBA are pretty low because he can’t play defense. I posted the link on Cougfan awhile back.

I found it ironic that he left WSU because he wanted to run and gun but the NBA wants complete players and his chances at the next level are limited until he learns to play defense. Morrison now sits most of the time because his defense sucks as well. Unless you can play defense in the NBA, you are a net liability and will see few minutes.

Kyle Weaver is proof that minutes start with defense. He doesn’t hurt the team and so they are willing to give him time to develop his O since other players can help cover that void.

by CougarsRock on Feb 28, 2009 8:26 AM PST reply actions 0 recs