Russotti, Muhammad & Akognon

SI is going to do a feature on Jeremy Russotti, Shabazz Muhammad and Josh Akognon -- "Sports illustrated editor just confirmed interview 4 story with myself, @phenom15balla and J. Akgonon for end summer story May 19th. Pumped!"

Folks, it's happening in Windsor.

Josh Akognon goes for 54

 (here is Josh representing Nigeria)

Former Casa Grande High and Cal State Fullerton star Josh Akognon is currently playing in China for the DongGuan squad and went for 54 points the other night in a 117-109 road victory over Shandong. Josh buried nine three-pointers, his second straight game with nine treys.

Check out the video highlighting #2 (with the headband).

From a December 15 article, Josh's numbers at that time were: 30.5 points, 3.5 assists, 4.0 steals

Josh Akognon does it again

Wow, he did it again.

Former Casa Grande High and Fullerton State star Josh Akognon scored 35 points last night in pushing his Dongguang Leopards' team (Chinese Basketball League) record to 2-0. He shot 13-19 (7-11 on 3-pointers) and beat Yao Ming's Sharks team.

He has won head-to-head matchups with Stefon Marbury's and Ricky Davis'/Jerome Moiso's teams respectively. 

In his first game in China, Josh had 28 points on 9-16 overall shooting, 7 assists and 2 TOs in only 29 minutes of play.

Josh Akognon starring in China

Former Casa Grande High and Fullerton State star Josh Akognon is playing for the Dongguang Leopards of the Chinese Basketball League and enjoying his first couple of games.
        
First, Josh out-played Stephon Marbury and most recently put up 28 points against a team featuring former NBA-er Ricky Davis (Charlotte, Miami, Cleveland, Boston). His line for the game: 9-16 overall shooting, seven assists, two turnovers in 29 minutes on the court. Davis totaled 21 points.

The head coach for the Leopards is Brian Goorjian, known for his tremendous success in Australia.

Get to this basketball skills clinic in Fairfield

Here is opportunity to work learn under the top basketball trainer in the west, plus a player who virtually came out of nowhere who is now making a living playing professionally.

Skills Clinic In Fairfield
when: July 23, 2010
where: Allan Witt Sports Center, 1741 W. Texas Street, Fairfield
time: 10 a.m. and runs 2 1/2 hours
cost: $40

Here is the link to register.

The clinic is being ran by Jeremy Russotti (1% Club Basketball) and Josh Akognon (who averaged 20 ppg in Euroleague this past season).

Contact Coach Bass @ First Step Basketball, 707 803-1003, for more information.

Josh Akognon is in...Estonia

Life is an adventure and sometimes basketball too. Former Casa Grande star Josh Akognon is combining both with a jump into adventureland:

Josh Akognon's basket-Baltic adventure
Phil Barber
The Press Democrat
February 16, 2010

Soon after Josh Akognon signed his first pro basketball contract, the former Casa Grande star was hanging out with his family and his new wife, Ariana, when they decided it would be a good idea to pull out a globe and locate the young couple's destination.

They couldn't find it.

“Ya'll going somewhere that ain't on the map,” Josh's mother, Alfreda, exclaimed, shaking her head. “Oh Lord, help us...”

Go here for the remainder.

A Josh Akognon update

Here's some news on former Casa Grande basketball star Josh Akognon, courtesy of Bob Padecky's blog:

Josh Akognon to play in Europe
Bob Padecky
Santa Rosa Press-Democrat
October 22, 2009

Former Casa Grande star Josh Akognon will be flying Friday to Estonia to begin an 8-month stint for the professional basketball team in the city of Kalev-Cramo.

Akognon, who starred for Cal State Fullerton, went undrafted but had tryouts with five NBA teams: Warriors, Lakers, Kings, Spurs and Trail Blazers.

“I was told that I was an NBA player but that I needed some more experience,” said Akognon, a 5-foot-11 guard. “I also was told that the team in Estonia is one of the top European teams and playing well there would really help me.”

Akognon was not sure what his salary would be but that, at a minimum it’s $5,000 a month.

plus, a bit more from Padecky:

Oh yes, Josh also got married

Josh Akognon called me back Thursday to add, “I got married on Sept. 5.”

Akognon, headed to Europe for pro ball, met Arianna Scales when they both attended Washington State. Both of them played basketball for the Cougars and they were both point guards.

Both also moved to get degrees at other universities, Josh in Afro Ethnic Studies at Cal State Fullerton and Ariana in Sports Management from Washburn University in Kansas.