Josh Akognon
Encyclopedia
Joshua Emmanuel Akognon is a Nigerian American
professional basketball
guard who played collegiate basketball for Washington State University
(Cougars) and Cal State Fullerton (Titans).
nominee at Casa Grande High School
in Petaluma, California
. He was recruited to play for the Cougars of Washington State University, who were then coached by Dick Bennett, father of current University of Virginia coach Tony Bennett. Akognon then eventually transferred from Washington State University
to Cal State Fullerton.
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. 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.
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.
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 California State University, 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.
, 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).
team to a 10-3 record since his arrival and his offensive ability has opened the floor for his teammates. He is currently in the top 10 in scoring with a 15.7 average and third in the league with 3.0 3-pointers per game. Akognon is also shooting 39% from 3-point range and has enjoyed his stronger games against the top teams in the league. Josh was also recently the cover man for the Estonian basketball magazine and featured in a television spot.
(CBA). Josh took the CBA by storm, averaging over 29 points for the season and enabling DongGuan to almost double its win total from the previous year, improving to a 25-7 third place finish in the league compared to a 13-19 record from the previous year. Akognon scored in double figures every game and had 18 20-point games, 12 30-point games, 4 40-point games and a career-high 54 point effort. Josh led DongGuan to a first-round victory in the CBA playoffs before falling to rival Guangdong in the semifinals. Throughout the season, Akognon held his own against NBA-caliber talent displaying his scoring, dribbling, creativity and playmaking ability, delighting fans across the Chinese mainland.
Nigerian American
Nigerian Americans are citizens of the United States of America who are or descend from immigrants from Nigeria. Since the late 1960s and early 1970s, approximately one million Nigerians have immigrated in to the United States....
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
guard who played collegiate basketball for Washington State University
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
(Cougars) and Cal State Fullerton (Titans).
High school
Akognon was a McDonald's All-American TeamMcDonald's All-American Team
The McDonald's All-American Game refers to each of the all-star basketball games played each year for boys' and girls' high-school basketball graduates. Consisting of the top American and Canadian players, each team plays a single exhibition game after the conclusion of the high-school basketball...
nominee at Casa Grande High School
Casa Grande High School
Casa Grande High School is a public high school in Petaluma, California. The current principal is Ms. Linda Scheele . The Assistant Principals are Eric Backman , Stephen Owens , and Betha MacClain ....
in Petaluma, California
Petaluma, California
Petaluma is a city in Sonoma County, California, in the United States. In the 2010 Census the population was 57,941.Located in Petaluma is the Rancho Petaluma Adobe, a National Historic Landmark. It was built beginning in 1836 by General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, then Commandant of the San...
. He was recruited to play for the Cougars of Washington State University, who were then coached by Dick Bennett, father of current University of Virginia coach Tony Bennett. Akognon then eventually transferred from Washington State University
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
to Cal State Fullerton.
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
Brandon Roy
Brandon Dawayne Roy is an American professional basketball player for the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association. He was selected sixth in the 2006 NBA Draft, having completed four years playing for the Washington Huskies. In 2009, he served as the team's co-captain, along...
-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
Arron Afflalo
Arron Agustin Afflalo is an American professional basketball player, currently with the Denver Nuggets of the NBA. He completed a three-year career at University of California, Los Angeles in the Pacific-10 Conference of the National Collegiate Athletic Association as the starting shooting...
.
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. 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.
FIBA 2006
Akognon was part of the Nigeria national basketball teamNigeria national basketball team
The Nigeria national basketball team is the national team of Nigeria and is generally considered one of the best in Africa along with Angola and Senegal. They are ranked 21st in the world FIBA rankings....
at FIBA 2006 in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. His three pointer with time running down on the shot clock was instrumental in Nigeria upsetting defending world champion Serbia-Montenegro.
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 California State University, Fullerton
California State University, Fullerton
California State University, Fullerton is a public university located in Fullerton, California. It is the largest institution in the CSU System by enrollment, it offers long-distance education and adult-degree programs...
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
O. J. Mayo
Ovinton J'Anthony "O. J." Mayo , is an American basketball player currently playing with the Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA. He signed with the team on July 8, 2008. He played college basketball for the University of Southern California...
and Kevin Love
Kevin Love
Kevin Love, born in Des Moines, Iowa, is a former NASCAR driver. He ran five races in the 2004 Craftsman Truck Series season, all for Fiddleback Racing....
, 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.
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 Conference Men's Basketball Player of the YearBig West Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year
The Big West Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year is an annual basketball award given to the Big West Conference's most outstanding player. The conference was formed in 1969 and was known as the Pacific Coast Athletic Association until 1988. The award was first given following the 1969–70...
, 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
Leon Wood
Osie Leon Wood III , is an American former professional basketball player who was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1st round of the 1984 NBA Draft. A 6'3" shooting guard from Saint Monica Catholic High School and California State University-Fullerton, Wood played in six NBA seasons for...
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).
Estonian League
Akognon has helped lead the BC Kalev/CramoBC Kalev/Cramo
BC Kalev/Cramo is a professional basketball club based in Tallinn, Estonia participating in Korvpalli Meistriliiga, Baltic Basketball League and VTB United League. Kalev/Cramo plays their home games at Saku Suurhall and Kalevi Spordihall. The club was previously known under the name Ehitustööriist,...
team to a 10-3 record since his arrival and his offensive ability has opened the floor for his teammates. He is currently in the top 10 in scoring with a 15.7 average and third in the league with 3.0 3-pointers per game. Akognon is also shooting 39% from 3-point range and has enjoyed his stronger games against the top teams in the league. Josh was also recently the cover man for the Estonian basketball magazine and featured in a television spot.
Baltic League
Akognon has also helped Kalev hold its own in the Baltic League, a league made up of the top teams from different Baltic countries including Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Despite this level of competition being stronger than the Estonian League, he put up stronger numbers and finished regular season play as the leading scorer averaging 19.5 points per game. Josh shot over 40 percent from three-point range and 89.2 percent from the free throw line (2nd best). He also led the league with 60 three-pointers made and his average of 4.0 three-pointers made per game is far and away the top average. Akognon also tied a Baltic League record with 8 three-pointers on November 28 in a 95-85 win against Nevesis.DongGuan Leopards - CBA
Akognon is currently playing for the Dongguan Leopards in the Chinese Basketball AssociationChinese Basketball Association
The Chinese Basketball Association , often abbreviated to the CBA, is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in China.The league is commonly known as the CBA, and this acronym is often used even in Chinese...
(CBA). Josh took the CBA by storm, averaging over 29 points for the season and enabling DongGuan to almost double its win total from the previous year, improving to a 25-7 third place finish in the league compared to a 13-19 record from the previous year. Akognon scored in double figures every game and had 18 20-point games, 12 30-point games, 4 40-point games and a career-high 54 point effort. Josh led DongGuan to a first-round victory in the CBA playoffs before falling to rival Guangdong in the semifinals. Throughout the season, Akognon held his own against NBA-caliber talent displaying his scoring, dribbling, creativity and playmaking ability, delighting fans across the Chinese mainland.