Josh Akognon

Josh Akognon
Josh Akognon
College	Cal State Fullerton
Conference	Big West
Sport	Basketball
Position	Point Guard
Nickname	Petaluma Pistol, The Torch
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight	185 lb (84 kg)
Nationality	NIG/USA
Born	February 10, 1986 (1986-02-10) Greenbrae, California
High school	Casa Grande High School, Petaluma, California
Honors
2008 Big West Tournament MVP 2009 Big West Player Of The Year 2009 Baltic Basketball League Leading Scorer
Tournaments
2008 NCAA men's basketball tournament

Joshua Emmanuel Akognon (born 10 February 1986) is a Nigerian American professional basketball guard who played collegiate basketball for Washington State University (Cougars) and Cal State Fullerton (Titans).

High school

Akognon was a McDonald's All-American Team nominee at Casa Grande High School in Petaluma, California. Akognon along with european standout Angelo Tsagarakis led Casa Grande to the best season in school history in 2003, forming one of the best duo in Northern California basketball history. 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.

College

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. 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 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.

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 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.

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 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).

Professional career

Estonian League

Akognon has helped lead the BC Kalev/Cramo 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 Association (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.

External links

• [1]
• Cal State Fullerton bio
• Washington State bio
• Josh Akognon Fan Page