Akognon starts out strong

In Josh Akognon's first game for Liaoning, his new team in China, he poured in 46 points (17-25 overall shooting, 8-13 on three-pointers) in a win. 

More on Josh Akognon

Phil Barber gets inside the Josh Akognon - Dallas Mavericks - China Basketball Association situation.

Akognon heads east

Josh Akognon turned out to be the 16th player on a roster of 15 for the Dallas Mavericks so it's back to China.

How's it going for Josh Akognon?

Check out this headline atop Craig Berlin's article on Josh Akognon, who is doing his thing in the Dallas Mavericks camp: "No Joshin’…This Guy Can Play! Josh Akognon Hangs with the Mavericks"

An informative and through read -- you gotta be pulling for Josh.

Mpre on Josh Akognon from a local source

Phil Barber goes in depth on Josh Akognon.

More on Josh Akognon

Wendell Maxey goes into depth on Josh Akognon's Dallas Mavericks scenario. Let's hope Mark Cuban sees the light.

Akognon to Dallas

Luke Adams writes about Josh Akognon and the Dallas Mavericks. Seemingly something is missing in the report because why would Josh opt out if his chances were slim to none as is indicated?

Akognon to San Antonio

Jeremy Russotti reports: "Josh Akognon heading to the Spurs next week. Josh has been working on his defense and leg strength HARD lately"

That seems like a great pairing, going to a mature squad and one with a coach (Gregg Popovich) who really gets how to maximize the strengths of his individual players.

The latest on Josh Akognon

Bob Padecky highlights what Josh Akognon has been doing on the court, especially of late, and also details the former Casa Grande High star's off-the-court values in a very insightful article.

Akognon continues to impress

Marilyn Kenyon is now a Josh Akognon fan -- Josh-sanity in 2012-13? If so, it couldn't happen to a more deserving young man.

25 for Akognon

Playing for the Sacramento Kings Summer League squad, Josh Akognon compiled 25 points in 22 minutes last night. He shot 10-16 overall, 4-8 from long distance.

Tyler Gaffaney is ready to rip

There are early bloomers, right-as-expected-timers, late flourishers and non-starters in all manner of athletics and former Branson High basketball player Tyler Gaffaney has broken down door #3 and is now ready to make his mark.

Gaffaney was a solid player during his time at Branson, strong on fundamentals but not necessarily seen as on a breakthrough trajectory. He signed with Coach Ken Scalmanini and the Claremont - Mudd - Scripps program.

Coming from a very successful prep program, he landed with another as the Stags have earned league championships in six of the past 10 seasons, including both seasons Gaffaney has been on the roster..

After playing as a freshman, the 6-foot-3 Gaffaney and his teammates repeated this past season with him performing as a full-time starter averaging 10.4 points and 4.3 rebounds a game, on 52%, 44% and 75% shooting while playing point and shooting guard. Claremont - Mudd - Scripps lost 76-74 in overtime to then defending national champion St. Thomas in the first round of the D-III national playoffs.

Regarding the difference in his game between now and high school, Gaffaney said, "I was more a slasher in high school and now I'm a lot stronger and a better three-point and pullup shooter."

He added, "I've continued to work hard. I've always had a feel for the game and I'm able to absorb information quickly and that has helped. It's been a fun ride and it's coming together now.".

Alongside his effort, what also facilitated his development was Gaffaney was connecting with Santa Rosa area skills trainer Jeremy Russotti. "I did his camps earlier but started working out individually with him after high school and that has made all the difference."

Russotti was effusive about his protege.
 

 "Tyler epitomizes the type of player we like to train in our GRT program. He has worked side-by-side with Josh Akognon for the past two and a half years. He started as a sparring type player and now he is one of our top guys. His footwork is absolutely perfect and he does exactly what you teach. It is rare to have a client who trusts everything you say and implements your teachings immediately.
 

I applaud him for staying with the school he loves but I do not see him as a D-III player. He could play for most D-I programs right now and fit in. He is far more skilled and a better player than most D-I guys who come train with us. When pro guys or college guys come in to workout, the first thing we do is match them up against Tyler. 10 out of 10 times, Tyler will beat them one-on-one. Afterwards, most of these guys ask him which pro team he plays for. It's comical.
 

But Tyler is not only a great player -- he is a model student, hard worker, and displays a great attitude at anything he does. He recently started to work for us since he is such a great teacher and really understands skill mastery and development and how to relate to people.
 

I always love to hear when Josh tells me that Tyler is probably the best defender he has ever gone against. Josh also believes that Tyler has a professional career ahead of him and has the game to show.

The next evolution for Tyler is to believe he is the toughest guy to guard on the court and that he is the man! He has been a role guy since his days at Branson and always fit that perfectly. Now he needs to take what he learned and become the go-to-guy on the offensive end. Once he realizes he is the best player on the floor, he will become an All-American."

As Russotti mentioned above, one of Gaffaney's early strengths is a facet often given the short shrift on the court.

"I grew up focusing more on defense rather than offense, and my offense was secondary earlier in my career" Gaffaney explained. "So i've always made sure to work hard and improve on the defensive end of the floor as well as the offensive end because I've always believed defense to be very important."

Akognon offers an amen here: "Tyler is the best defender I have ever played against, including NBA guys I have gone against."

Now the burgeoning upperclassman is ready for a breakout season.

Let's have Akognon elucidate: "Tyler is going to explode this next year and he has the potential to play somewhere at the next level. He is the hardest working guy I know outside of my friends who are professionals. Tyler should be at a D-1 school hands down."

Gaffaney returned the kudos.

"Taking on Josh, he's one of those guys you can't really stop. I try to stay close because of his jumper but I also need to stay strong when he goes to the hoop."

Gaffaney wasn't recruited by D-1 schools as a prep senior and his decision to go with Claremont - Mudd - Scripps was instigated by both the high level of academics and because Bob Donlan, his former Branson coach, played there.

So are there moments where he ponders the possibility of changing and challenging talent at higher levels?

"No, I love my school, my coach and my friends there."

But whatever the level of competition, such isn't keeping him from wanting to remain connected to hoops.

The psychology and economics dual major said, "I would love to keep playing basketball and do it for a living. When Father Time taps me on the shoulder and says it's time to end, then coaching is something I'll look at."

But first comes two more seasons collegiately

Plus of course, more work dedicated to improvement.

Big time happenings in Santa Rosa

There is no off-season in any sport, especially basketball. That is, if you want to get better and not get left behind. Come this weekend, a prime yet remarkable example of just this will take place.

On Saturday, a prominent Sports Illustrated senior writer is going to descend on Santa Rosa, specifically Jeremy Russotti's training venue where the latter will be working out Shabazz Muhammad, the top prospect in the country and former Casa Grande High star now international baller Josh Akognon.

 That pairing in itself speak volumes but it's what attracted the attention of this country's top sports magazine.

Muhammad is headed to UCLA in September. Life is set for him. A year, maybe two with the Bruins and then it's off to fame and fortune in the NBA. But the young man and his father know -- that being the key that sets them apart from so many others -- that a transformation of his game is necessary in order to secure that bright future. The physical abilities, edgy toughness and maximum effort are already present. But just as important is that the hunger to get better, the willingness to learn and the desire to be challenged and not protected are also the keys to Muhammad's future success.

As Russotti put it, "People may think I am crazy to say this, but Shabazz is far from a finished product and has very little offensive technique to start with." He continued, "But playing hard and training hard, you cannot force that. And Shabazz has that once in a lifetime innate drive to be the best." 

For Akognon, he's enjoyed well-paying stints in China, averaging 29 points per game and 27 points per game in the last two seasons overseas.  He's doing well financially and understands that there are many ways to the NBA. Nobody outworks him and it's been that way for years under Russotti's tutelage.  Says Russotti, "Akognon is a rare player that has trained at the highest level for like eight years straight and has never thought twice about deviating away from his goals. He doesn't talk, he's very humble, and has a workman approach to his craft. It is almost deja vu training both Shabazz and Josh together. It's scary how similar these guys are in personality and intrinsic motivation."

Simply put, Akognon and Muhammad are basketball kin, joined at the heart and head in terms of doing what is necessary to keep advancing.

How this all began is Russotti received an invite to work out Muhammad's Bishop Gorman High team -- that's where the paths of Russotti and Muhammad initially crossed. Then it was Russotti doing the same with Dream Vision, Muhammad's spring and summer club basketball squad.

The elder Muhammad eventually said to Russotti, "I don't know what you're doing with my son but in just a few weekends he looks like a two-guard."

Russotti was impressed by what he saw: "Shabazz doesn't talk, he trains, he works, he wants results. If you have seen him play, Shabazz usually gets what he goes after."

Eventually, it became four weekends of workouts with Shabazz, so far.

At some point, Muhammad saw footage of Akognon's play and was intrigued by how a 6-foot guard was so effective.

Simply put, Russotti acknowledged, "nobody beats Josh one-on-one consistently, nobody. Josh can make the best players humble really quickly when mano a mano."

Now the pair are training together and, prompted by Jeremy Lin's uber emergence this season, SI wants to do a feature on how a star talent is making his way to The Big Show plus how a lesser recognized talent is carving out his own path to donning an NBA uniform.

As Russotti describes it, "Josh's story is very Disney-like, and Shabazz is the vehicle that is allowing people to see how phenomenal this journey has been for all of us."

A Josh Akognon update

Always love the notes from Jeremy Russotti because I will learn something, one of my life's continuous goals. Josh Akognon has re-routed himself and as Jeremy put it: "Josh had a game last night. He scored 23 points in one quarter alone. Ended up with 33 points."

Here a link to Phil Barber's latest on Josh.

Jeremy Russotti and Shabazz Muhammad

Longtime basketball trainer extraordinaire Jeremy Russotti has been busy of late (as always) but dropped us a line with the latest happenings up in Windsor.

Josh Akognon is home from China. He averaged 28 points per game and once again was in the top five in scoring. He has multiple offers to go to top professional leagues for the play-offs, but has an offer that is supposed to go through any day to join the Los Angeles Lakers D-League team (Defenders). Hopefully, Josh will have some great games, and with a break here and there, be the next Jeremy Lin story...haha (our note: man, wouldn't that be something, another Bay Area prodigy). 

(Jeremy (l) with Shabazz and a third person)

This weekend Shabazz Muhammad (Naismith Award winner and #1 player in the country) will heading to Windsor, to stay with me for the weekend......and of course to train with Josh and others. I then turn around the following weekend and head to Las Vegas to spend the weekend with him in Vegas for training. Then the last weekend in March, I will be working him out in Los Angeles, as I am also training the Dream Vision staff and players during their tryouts for the weekend.

I am also probably heading to the McDonalds All-American Game with Shabazz and his family since we are crash cramming right now to get him ready to be at the top of his game in front of the entire basketball world for that game (our note: think about it, one of 'our' guys training the top prep basketball player in the country)

The scoop on Josh Akognon

Catch the latest on former Casa Grande High and Cal State Fullerton star Josh Akognon courtesy of Bob Padecky's feature.

A Josh Akognon update

Thanks to Jeremy Russotti for filling us in on the latest regarding former Casa Grande High and Cal State Fullerton star Josh Akognon.

"Josh Akognon is with the LA Lakers tomorrow with their new draft picks to see who gets invites to veteran camp.

So far, he went to the New Orleans Hornets camp and got an invite to that veteran camp (he did really good).

We hope he blows away the Lakers staff in the next few days as well.

He has been working his tail off this summer in our Green Room Training program (as you will see on video)."