Big East Basketball: 3 bold predictions for the 2019-20 season
By Brian Rauf
2) James Akinjo is Powell’s biggest competition for Big East Player of the Year as Georgetown finishes third
Markus Howard is (obviously) viewed as Powell’s biggest contender when it comes to Big East Player of the Year and is also a preseason first-team All-American, but it will be Akinjo that will finish No. 2 in voting.
Akinjo averaged 13.4 points and 5.2 assists per game as a freshman for Georgetown and emerged as their most important player as the season progressed. In fact, he outplayed Howard in the Hoyas’ win over Marquette in the regular-season finale.
However, consistency and decision-making were Akinjo’s two biggest problems. He only shot 36.5 percent from the field and averaged 3.0 turnovers per game, but there are reasons for that. As a smaller guard (6-foot, 180 lbs), he had to learn how to adjust to finishing around bigger defenders. Akinjo also played out of control at times – something that comes with youth – which led to bad shots and turnovers.
The Richmond, CA native should cut down on those mistakes as a more experienced player. If he becomes more efficient, Georgetown will have a star. I think he’ll become one as one of the country’s biggest breakout players.
Akinjo’s breakout will coincide with Georgetown’s breakout as a team. Patrick Ewing has quickly rebuilt this program and, entering his third season at the helm, has a top 25 caliber roster. Akinjo and Mac McClung form one of the nation’s better offensive backcourts and NC State transfer Omer Yurtseven should at least replicate Jessie Govan’s production.
The Hoyas return four starters and a majority of the rotation. They should be much improved with all that experience returning and should be the team that breaks through from that second tier and finishes behind Seton Hall and Villanova.