BBall Recruiting - New 2021 Target/Jaden Akins

Submitted by Matt EM on December 2nd, 2018 at 11:35 AM

Now seems like a good time to get back into basketball recruiting coming off a disappointing loss on the grid-iron. I typically don't post here with respect to underclassmen, but think this one is something the board will genuinely like.

This kid follows the typical Michigan prospect pattern in that he's under-the-radar, still has some physical development to do, comes from a great family, has an elite skillset...………...difference being that he's already explosive as an athlete.

From a body-type standpoint, Akins reminds me of 2020 commit Zeb Jackson, but Jaden is a much better shotmaker/scorer and a better athlete.

http://endlessmotor.net/2018/12/02/2021-guard-jaden-akins-starting-to-put-his-name-on-the-map-talks-early-interest-and-offers/

MGoBoard

Paps

December 2nd, 2018 at 11:58 AM ^

Love Coach B finding "his guys" that fit his system... obviously it works.  But I would LOVE to see us nab some 5 star top talent. I think Walker Kessler would be a great start. There's no reason we can't pull in a 5star guy and a couple Beilein guys each year. 

Joined: 09/29/2012

MGoPoints: 2239

Matt EM

December 2nd, 2018 at 12:40 PM ^

I get that, and even agree to a certain extent, but in this case Akins has the look of a top 100 prospect nationally when the time comes. A bit too early to start ranking 2021 kids realistically right now.

Frankly, the difference between most kids in the 30-100 range isn't all that great in terms of immediate impact. A guy like Brandon Johns is a perfect example of that. I had him in the mid 40s last year, while I would've had a guy like Livers in the mid 70s...……..but Livers' impact as a freshman is likely to be much greater than what Johns will accomplish.

Joined: 11/08/2008

MGoPoints: 13822

Matt EM

December 2nd, 2018 at 1:50 PM ^

I had Iggy at #29 (9 spots off five-star status) FWIW, but rankings from mainstream sites (and my own to a more limited extent) are based on NBA draft projection as opposed to college production exclusively.

You take a guy like Iggy, who isn't really projected to be a 1st rd pick by any of the experts, and compare him to a guy like Nassir Little of UNC for example. Iggy has certainly produced more than Little to date...……….but will that translate over to the NBA is the question?

There are real questions about Iggy's ability to finish at the NBA level against legit rim protection (bigs in college are horrid for the most part) because he doesn't get lift when finishing and he's not going to bully anyone in the league to create space off the dribble. His game is really predicated upon ambidextrous finishing and bully-ball driving to the paint. Those things don't appear likely to translate at this point. He's a good shooter so far in college, but his mechanics are less than ideal and hence question marks there too. And I think we all know it would be a challenge for him to defend perimeter players at the next level and he doesn't have quite the size to be a legit post defender. Essentially he's a guy with a lot of questions, doesn't quite have an NBA position, is old for his class, but yet he produces at a great clip.

Little is the opposite...……..doesn't produce nearly at Iggy's level yet, but he has the physical attributes to compete in the NBA in terms of explosion, strength, lateral movement. His handle is solid, although his acceleration is lacking, and he has decent shot mechanics. He has the look of a Gerald Wallace type that can check 3s and 4s while finishing at the rim and a solid defender/rebounder that will eventually be a decent floor-spacer from distance.

Joined: 11/08/2008

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ReverendBlueJeans

December 2nd, 2018 at 4:34 PM ^

Beilein doesn't miss on a lot of 5* guys because he doesn't even recruit them. I think that's intentional as he's not really interested in the one-and-done players. Beilein wants to build a team for sustained success. Both approaches (team vs. one and done) have proven to work not only at Duke and Kentucky but even at Michigan. I just don't think he's all that interested in teaching a whole new crop of blue-chippers when he can build for 1-2 years by easing soph's and junior's onto the court. 

Joined: 10/01/2015

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outsidethebox

December 2nd, 2018 at 2:54 PM ^

Thanks..was curious if he can see anything other than the basket-he can :) What these highlights tapes cannot show is a player's larger understanding of the game-their basketball IQ. How much do they make their teammates better? There are hints here that this kid is indeed very good. As a coach, I value having a kid like this playing point. He shoots well enough that his defender has to come out and play him...but if he does too aggressively he will take you off the dribble-which still leaves him a weakly contested 3-ball...and if you hedge to help out he will find your man for an open look...what more can you ask for??? I think he would do well playing for Beilein.

Joined: 01/23/2017

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Matt EM

December 2nd, 2018 at 12:25 PM ^

No clue at this point. The recruiting pool in December is vastly different from the recruiting pool in late March/early April, especially under Coach Beilein. Coach B doesn't typically play the waiting game as much as other schools, especially if a prospect isn't reciprocating strong interest. I suspect new targets will pop up in the 19 class once the season ends, hopefully in another F4 appearance.

Joined: 11/08/2008

MGoPoints: 13822