Memphis basketball adds Emmanuel Akot, versatile Boise State transfer

Emmanuel Akot is the newest transfer to sign up for Penny Hardaway’s Memphis basketball workforce.

Akot (6-8, 210), initially a 5-star prospect who prepped at Wasatch Academy (Utah), spent the earlier three seasons at Boise Point out. Ahead of that, he performed two seasons at Arizona. In 54 games (39 starts) as a Bronco, he averaged 9.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.8 helps. He chose Memphis about NC Condition and Western Kentucky, his other two finalists.

Akot’s arrival eases some of the sting of getting rid of 3-and-D guard Lester Quinones, who not long ago announced he was remaining in the NBA Draft. Hardaway has manufactured substantial attempts to incorporate a shooter, and Akot fits the mildew. The indigenous of Winnipeg shot 38.7% (55 for 142) from 3-place land last year at Boise Condition, which was the 2nd-best mark on the staff between gamers with extra than 100 makes an attempt. Akot’s 1.8 triples for each recreation was fantastic adequate for 10th in the Mountain West previous time.

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Including Akot is a big stage toward filling an spot of sizeable have to have. Shedding Tyler Harris, Landers Nolley II, Emoni Bates and Quinones – who put together to shoot 36.8% from 3-stage land – intended that the Tigers waved goodbye to 83.8% of their designed 3-ideas in 2021-22. Akot’s 55 manufactured 3-pointers would have tied for most on the workforce very last season.

Apart from Akot’s existence, Davis will also aid account for some of that missing output. The previous SMU star shot 35.7% outside of the arc in a few seasons with the Mustangs. Final period, he attempted far more 3-tips (207) than the earlier two seasons blended (157) and hit on 37.2% of them. That sharp maximize in makes an attempt can largely be attributed to a change in the team’s personnel. In 2019-20, the Mustangs’ perimeter assault relied intensely on Isiaha Mike and Tyson Jolly, who blended for 303 makes an attempt outside of the arc. Davis and Emmanuel Bandoumel have been called on to account for the losses of Mike and Jolly.

Tale proceeds

Though Akot is a 3-stage menace, his versatility can make him even a lot more tricky to defend. When he also shot 40% from the discipline in general last year, his aid numbers show he’s just as experienced at making pictures for other folks as he is at doing so for himself.

Defensively, Akot signifies a significant enhance in excess of each and every guard the Tigers lost following very last season. Akot registered a 22.4 defensive Bayesian performance rating (for every EvanMiya.com), which steps the defensive value a player provides to his team. Quionnes sported a 15.1.

Akot gets the fourth player Hardaway has netted from the portal because the offseason began. Davis, guard Elijah McCadden and large man Kao Akobundu-Ehiogu were included in April and May. But the Tigers nevertheless have floor to make up. Hardaway has four scholarships remaining to fill. If Alex Lomax decides to skip his COVID period, there will be five scholarships available.

Attain sports writer Jason Munz at [email protected] or on Twitter @munzly.

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