Auburn’s next diamond in the rough
October 24, 2019
Jay Phillips
Ask a college basketball fan who Auburn’s most underrated freshmen is and they’ll probably say “Isaac Okoro,” considering he was barely a top-35 recruit and was only ranked a five star by one major recruiting service, yet he has already found his way into mock drafts.
Or maybe they’ll say “Tyrell Jones.” After all, “Turbo” picked up over 30 offers the summer before his senior season and was still barely considered a top-100 recruit.
Arguments could be made for Devan Cambridge and others, since Auburn’s class is loaded with potential diamonds in the rough, but Babatunde “Stretch” Akingbola is the right answer.
Not just because the 6’10” 236-pound center out of McEachern was one of the lowest ranked recruits in Auburn’s signing class, but because almost every time you watch him play, he looks like a future pro.
Akingbola arrived to Auburn as the no.295 ranked recruit in the nation according to 247’s composite ranking, and once he knocks some rust off, I have a feeling that he’ll make that ranking look ridiculous.
Rankings aside, Akingbola seems like the kind of player that can come into Auburn and make an immediate impact and also play himself into a draft pick in the future. Yet he has almost no recognition outside of Auburn circles.
Akingbola’s defense, athleticism, speed and agility, mixed with his (seemingly growing) ability to shoot threes makes it seem like he could be Auburn’s next Anfernee McLemore.
Add in Akingbola’s nearly-seven foot frame, with a wingspan even longer than that, and it’s easy to see why he could be Auburn’s most underrated freshman.
A closer look at some of those attributes not only makes you wonder how he wasn’t ranked higher as a recruit, but it also makes you wonder what all he’ll accomplish at Auburn.
Defensive potential:
It’s been a while since Akingbola shut down a five star forward, or swatted a top-50 guard’s shot, but the ease with which he did it in high school and the extra inches and pounds he’s added since then, makes me think it won’t be long until we see him do it again.
Most of Akingbola’s ability ties into his size and athleticism.
Akingbola regularly beats guards up and down the floor, which allows him to pick up dunks and put backs in transition and eliminate transition opportunities for opposing players.
In a way, Akingbola is like a lanky, 6’10” version of Malik Dunbar when it comes to chase down blocks and playing in transition.
It’s not just the fast breaks that’ll make your jaw drop. For his size, Akingbola displayed great perimeter defense at times, rim protecting ability, quick hands and a host of other signs of what’s to come.
Rim protecting is one of the keys to Akingbola’s game. His agility and footwork allows him to stay in front of players in the post while not picking up blocking fouls, while his wingspan and ability to get off the ground quickly allows him to alter shots.
Akingbola even recorded a triple-double at McEachern thanks to his shot blocking ability.
When McEachern played North Cobb in January of 2018, Akingbola had 10 points, 15 rebounds and 10 blocks.
It wasn’t just McEachern who benefited from Akingbola’s rim protecting skills. While playing for the Athletes of Tomorrow with Cooper, Okoro and others, Akingbola was named EYBL Atlanta defensive player of the session for averaging 5.3 blocks, 10 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game.
Perimeter defense:
Akingbola’s ability to block and alter shots isn’t a big secret among Auburn basketball fans, but his ability to switch onto smaller forwards and handle stretch-centers on the perimeter might be.
One of the best examples of that comes from when his high school team played against (one time five-star Auburn commit, and current Kentucky forward/center) EJ Montgomery’s team.
Akingbola handled Montgomery driving from the perimeter multiple times and even forced a few bad shots.
Stretch never left the floor that game and guarded Montgomery from start to finish.
Montgomery was able to score a few baskets in the fourth quarter, but Akingbola held the five star forward to just one field goal attempt through the first three quarters.
Akingbola finished 10 points, 7 rebounds and 4 blocks.
Two of those points and one of those blocks came in back-to-back possessions.
Almost every aspect of Akingbola’s defensive game was on full display, including his quick jumps, rebounding and his quick hands.
It was far from a one-game wonder for Akingbola, with McEachern’s game against (a one time top-50 recruit and current Clemson forward) Khavon Moore’s Westside team providing another example.
Akingbola not only showed off his versatility by guarding Moore and Westside’s centers, but the big man finished the game with eight blocks and multiple fast break plays.
Offensive potential:
Akingbola might make a living off of his defensive prowess one day, but his offense could help get him on the map of some NBA scouts, considering the direction that the NBA is moving in.
One of the things that makes him unique is one of the things that opened people’s eyes to him at Tipoff at Toomer’s, and that’s his ability to “stretch” the defense with a three point shot.
In other words, he’s not only “Stretch” due to his size and length.
Akingbola’s ability to jump quickly, his long arms, and his height will help him get put back dunks and pick-and-roll lobs. Add in his three point shot and it looks like he has the tools to be a good offensive player, but his defense is still ahead of his offense.
Even if Akingbola is closer to his ceiling now than I think he is, there’s a chance that we’re still a year away from seeing him get a stage to fully shine, due to the Austin Wiley and Anfernee McLemore being projected to get most of the minutes at center this season.
However, Bruce Pearl has raved about Akingbola a few times already, complimenting his defense and even complimenting his work ethic and communication skills.
No matter how he earns minutes this season, if Akingbola plays with the same intensity and athleticism that he did at McEachern, with an extra two-inches and twenty-pounds added to his frame, he’ll be ready to shine when the time comes, and he’ll look much better than a recruit that was barely ranked inside the top-300.
