NCAA Basketball: Ranking 2021 4-Star G Jaden Akins top 6 programs
By Ian Mumm
6. DePaul Blue Demons
The Blue Demons showed signs of hope last season, but it all fell apart in conference play. There’s likely to be much improvement in 2020, but Dave Leitao has already received two top-70 commitments from backcourt players Ahamad Bynum and Keon Edwards. Add in Akins and things are really looking up for DePaul.
The face of the matter is this program needs playmakers and depth. The former has existed for the program over the last several seasons, but finding a group of players to exhibit consistent production while that talent was present has been harder to find. Akins’ offensive skills not only provides the Blue Demons with a strong base to attack defenses but also gifts the program time to comfortably develop both Bynum and Edwards at the college level.
Outside of poor perimeter shooting, DePaul was an efficient team in all areas of the court. Akins’ strengths in this particular area provide new dimensions to the program’s in-game plans and will force defenses to adjust their primary focus for stopping the Blue Demons. If this team can develop incoming freshman Kobe Elvis in the backcourt as well, this team has a chance to make some noise in 2021.