Josh Akognon
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| Josh Akognon | |
|---|---|
| College | Cal State Fullerton |
| Conference | Big West |
| Sport | Basketball |
| Position | Guard |
| Class | Senior |
| Career | 2005–present |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| Weight | 185 lb (84 kg) |
| Nationality | NIG/USA |
| Born | February 10, 1986 Greenbrae, California |
| High school | Casa Grande High School, Petaluma, California |
| Honors | |
| 2008 Big West Tournament MVP 2009 Big West Player Of The Year |
|
| Tournaments | |
| 2008 NCAA men's basketball tournament | |
Joshua Emmanuel Akognon (born 10 February 1986) is a American and Nigerian college basketball player with the Cal State Fullerton Titans.
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[edit] High School
Akognon was a McDonald's All-American Team nominee at Casa Grande High School in Petaluma, California. He eventually signed up with the Washington State Cougars, who were then coached by Dick Bennett, father of current coach Tony Bennett.
[edit] College
[edit] Sophomore season
Akognon began the season as a starter but soon went back to his role off the bench.
An ankle injury to starter Derrick Low forced Akognon to play more, and he responded by scoring 27 points, including the game-winning three-pointer and clinching free throws, in a 78-71 upset of Brandon Roy-led Washington. Akognon earned Pac-10 player of the week honors and followed that game with 25 points against the UCLA Bruins at Pauley Pavilion; most of the points came against Arron Afflalo.
He earned Pontiac Pac-10 Player Honors for his winning second-half performance against the USC Trojans. Josh was also voted the Pac-10's "Most Underrated Player" in an article that ran in Sports Illustrated.[citation needed] [1]Akognon led the team in scoring despite coming off the bench most of the year. Akognon transferred to Cal State Fullerton where he was eligible to play for two years at the beginning of the 2007-08 season.
[edit] FIBA 2006
Akognon was part of the Nigeria national basketball team at FIBA 2006 in Japan. His three pointer with time running down on the shot clock was instrumental in Nigeria upsetting defending world champion Serbia-Montenegro.
[edit] Junior season
Akognon averaged 20.2 points a game and scored in double figures 28 of 31 games, making at least one three-pointer in all but two games, at least four three-pointers in 18 of 31 games and reaching 20 points in 17 of 31 games. Josh also reached the 30-point mark five times, including a 31-point effort in the NCAA Tournament against Wisconsin.
Despite an injury to his shooting hand suffered against UC-Davis, Akognon shot just under 40% from three-point range and 90% from the free throw line. Josh made 116 three pointers and 107 free throws, a 100-100 combination matched by only seven players. Akognon also doubled his career-high in steals and reached 1,000 points for his college career.
Akognon's junior season also saw him achieve team and individual honors, with Cal-State Fullerton tying for the regular-season title, winning the Big West Tournament and reaching the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 30 years with a 24-9 record. Akognon was a first team selection at the Shamrock Holiday Classic at St. Mary's, named Mid Majority Baller of the Week, named to the All-District 15 Second Team by the NABC with such players as O. J. Mayo and Kevin Love, a second team Big West selection and named MVP of the Big West Tournament where he averaged 20 points per game and hit 12 three pointers in three games. Akognon was also named the 2007–2008 Africa Basket Player of the Year. Akognon announced on April 18 he was making himself eligible for the NBA Draft; after testing the waters and holding his own against some of the top 2008 draft prospects, Akognon decided on June 16 to return to the orange-and-blue for his senior season.
[edit] Senior season
While from a team standpoint the Titans failed to match their 2007-08 success, Akognon performed brilliantly in the face of countless, hounding defenses designed to slow him down. Josh was named the 2008-09 Big West Player of the Year, averaging 23.9 points per game, good for 8th in the nation. Akognon broke the single season scoring record of former Titan and U.S. Olympian Leon Wood with 764 points, finished seventh overall in Titan history with 1,411 points and established a two year scoring record for his exploits. Josh was also named to the NABC All-District 9 First Team, the only Big West player named to the team this year. Once again Akognon reached the 100-100 mark with 136 three-pointers (2nd best in the nation per game) and 132 free throws (8th best in the nation with 89.2% FT percentage). Only six other players achieved that 100-100 combination. Akognon ended the season with the longest current streak in the nation of 44 games with a made three pointer. He finished his college career with 1,805 points and 335 three pointers. Josh also set a Big West Tournament scoring record with 37 points in a first round win over UC Riverside that included 9 three pointers. Akognon reached double figures in 36 of 37 games, reached the 20 point mark twenty-two times, the 30+ point mark 6 times, and has had two 41 point games. He was also one of 50 players on the early season watch list for the James Naismith Award (given to the top player in college basketball), and named to the early season list for the Bob Cousy Award (given to the top point guard in college basketball). Multiple mock drafts currently have Akognon projected as a mid to late NBA second round draft pick.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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