Jordan Ford becoming a Star for the Gaels!

[kiddman32]

In the 2nd round of the NIT, Ford makes a bunch of big plays down the stretch as the Gaels hold on to beat Washington.

Scored 26 to lead the team... He has been getting bigtime minutes, esp. this last month or so.

 

[bella123]

Hopefully Bennett will look in his own backyard a bit more when it comes to recruiting in the future!

 

[ayalar09]

They'd be smart to try and get Akinjo to stay home.

 

[SF_Mikey]

They'd be smart to try and get Akinjo to stay home.

I wonder if Akinjo would fit their fit style of play? I think Akinjo would be a better fit for a program that runs a higher tempo offensive scheme. I think he'd fit in better with a Pac-12 program personally.

 

[ayalar09]

Some could argue the WCC is a stronger conference than the PAC 12.

Next year ASU will be good, maybe Stanford, Oregon and that’s about it. Maybe I could see Akinjo going to Oregon and teaming with Bol.

WCC would be perfect for him. USF is improving, St Mary’s is a great team, Zags are always a top 10 team.

Btw, saw on Akinjo’s twitter Patrick Ewing from Georgetown visited him. Looking like their the new favorites.

 

[damim]

Put him with Mac McClung and that's a pretty dynamic backcourt for the next few years for the Hoya's!

 

[laidbackcoach]

Akinjo and McClung would be the most dynamic backcourt the Hoyas have had since Victor Page and AI in the 90s. The Hoyas returning front court of Jessie Govan and Marcus Derrickson may be the strongest in the Big East next year and with the young wings they have in Pickett, Blair (both all Big East freshman team) and the Josh LeBlanc kid from Louisiana coming in next year, Ewing appears to be on the road to making Georgetown relevant again very quickly. Gtown's main missing piece is a true pg and they like to play uptempo now, so Akinjo would fit in great. Can't hurt to have a head coach with so many NBA connections either and a program that appears to be free of all the controversy being drummed up with the FBI investigation. Seems like a good fit for Akinjo and the Hoyas. I could see why Ewing was on him so quickly. .

 

[lovin basketball]

Akinjo and McClung would be the most dynamic backcourt the Hoyas have had since Victor Page and AI in the 90s. The Hoyas returning front court of Jessie Govan and Marcus Derrickson may be the strongest in the Big East next year and with the young wings they have in Pickett, Blair (both all Big East freshman team) and the Josh LeBlanc kid from Louisiana coming in next year, Ewing appears to be on the road to making Georgetown relevant again very quickly. Gtown's main missing piece is a true pg and they like to play uptempo now, so Akinjo would fit in great. Can't hurt to have a head coach with so many NBA connections either and a program that appears to be free of all the controversy being drummed up with the FBI investigation. Seems like a good fit for Akinjo and the Hoyas. I could see why Ewing was on him so quickly. .

Assumptions, I t

 

[lovin basketball]

Jordan Ford is really benefiting from the fact he has a good low post player, next year defenses will adjust . When Washington put St Mary’s in a up tempo game that’s when they came back.

 

[lovin basketball]

Akinjo and McClung would be the most dynamic backcourt the Hoyas have had since Victor Page and AI in the 90s. The Hoyas returning front court of Jessie Govan and Marcus Derrickson may be the strongest in the Big East next year and with the young wings they have in Pickett, Blair (both all Big East freshman team) and the Josh LeBlanc kid from Louisiana coming in next year, Ewing appears to be on the road to making Georgetown relevant again very quickly. Gtown's main missing piece is a true pg and they like to play uptempo now, so Akinjo would fit in great. Can't hurt to have a head coach with so many NBA connections either and a program that appears to be free of all the controversy being drummed up with the FBI investigation. Seems like a good fit for Akinjo and the Hoyas. I could see why Ewing was on him so quickly. .

I’m sorry but you give the impression James Akinjo is 6’5 and 210, please let the kid adjust to the college game. Good player but not athletic and it plays a difference at the next level!!!

 

[vukovich]

In the 2nd round of the NIT, Ford makes a bunch of big plays down the stretch as the Gaels hold on to beat Washington.

Scored 26 to lead the team... He has been getting bigtime minutes, esp. this last month or so.

It's easy to forget how good Ford was in high school. He was the first sacbee player of the year as a sophomore. Was a starter for the Soldiers. He is a lot better than a lot of guards starting at pac 12 schools. He's really going to blow up next year moving back to his normal position.

 

[lovin basketball]

It's easy to forget how good Ford was in high school. He was the first sacbee player of the year as a sophomore. Was a starter for the Soldiers. He is a lot better than a lot of guards starting at pac 12 schools. He's really going to blow up next year moving back to his normal position.

Ok I think Jordan Ford is a great young player, but he has the asset of a big that gets buckets!!! Don’t get confused they will adjust to his game, all I’m saying is the big is a benefit to his game. Thanks

 

[thekingera]

Jordan is the man! He is maturing at the D1 level so well.

 

[lovin basketball]

Not knocking his game at all, I’m just saying he has a great asset with a big that can go to work, and it really helps him get some good looks.

 

[larry legend33]

His skill level is off the chart. Same sort of runners and floaters he was doing at Folsom he is in College. The kid is a baller. St mary's is a top 25 type team so of course he will be surrounding himself with big time players. The fact he is successful speaks even more to his talents. He also sat and learned as a freshman and got better. DIdn't transfer or complain like 1/2 of kids in today's world.

What is Akinjo connection or fascination with the east coast? I like his game a lot so this isn't a knock, but he's a very small guard who by today's standards is average athletically. Even in the Folsom game the kids were equally as athletic and Forbes was altering or blocking a lot of his shots. In college he won't be overpowering guards. One thing he does very well though is shoot and make FT's. He can extend the floor and that is a big plus.

 

[coachlittle]

He also sat and learned as a freshman and got better. DIdn't transfer or complain like 1/2 of kids in today's world.
.

 

[Coach FJ]

how did Gabe Bealer look, I saw him knock a 3 down on highlights,

 

[larry legend33]

Utah was a tough matchup for st mary's as they topped the gaels it OT. It was really sedrick barefield who was the difference for Utah. Bealer played a good deal of minutes but more or a role player. Ford finished with 12pts and 4 boards and played basically the entire game including OT.

 

[youseechief]

I’m sorry but you give the impression James Akinjo is 6’5 and 210, please let the kid adjust to the college game. Good player but not athletic and it plays a difference at the next level!!!

I agree. Long athletic guards will give him problems for a while.

Akinjo and McClung would be the most dynamic backcourt the Hoyas have had since Victor Page and AI in the 90s. The Hoyas returning front court of Jessie Govan and Marcus Derrickson may be the strongest in the Big East next year and with the young wings they have in Pickett, Blair (both all Big East freshman team) and the Josh LeBlanc kid from Louisiana coming in next year, Ewing appears to be on the road to making Georgetown relevant again very quickly. Gtown's main missing piece is a true pg and they like to play uptempo now, so Akinjo would fit in great. Can't hurt to have a head coach with so many NBA connections either and a program that appears to be free of all the controversy being drummed up with the FBI investigation. Seems like a good fit for Akinjo and the Hoyas. I could see why Ewing was on him so quickly. .

Please don't mention possibly the greatest small guard (AI) and anyone's name in the same sentence. He was a different breed. For those who forget, victor page was an absolute monster in multiple areas of the college game.

G'town would have a solid backcourt but not dominant by any means.

 

[Lincoln240]

A little off the subject, but USF should be competing for 2nd place in league.
The CBI has allowed the Dons an extra month of practice and competition. They only lose Chase Foster. They get Back Mineland, who was out for the year and a preseason all wcc selection.
Kyle Smith has the program headed in the right direction!!! Would rather see USF keep the local talent and make it a place to go like it was many moons ago!!

 

[laidbackcoach]

I agree. Long athletic guards will give him problems for a while.



Please don't mention possibly the greatest small guard (AI) and anyone's name in the same sentence. He was a different breed. For those who forget, victor page was an absolute monster in multiple areas of the college game.

G'town would have a solid backcourt but not dominant by any means.

Read the post carefully. I did not compare AI to anyone. I said it would be the most dynamic backcourt Gtown has had since Page and AI. I challenge you to name a Gtown backcourt from 1997 forward that that would be more dynamic then Mac and James. Only an idiot would compare James and Mac to AI and Page at this point, and I am not an idiot.

 

[TheFolsomGuy]

Jordan Ford is really benefiting from the fact he has a good low post player, next year defenses will adjust . When Washington put St Mary’s in a up tempo game that’s when they came back.

Loving Basketball,
You make an intriguing point, but I doubt it applies to Ford. I saw just the opposite. Saint Mary’s luke warm offensive tempo and over reliance on Landale was incompatible with an up tempo guard like Ford and perhaps other shooters on the team. Most of the season, Landale benefited from the one-on one matchups in the paint because of the Saint Mary’s outside shooting efficiency which spread the floor. Spreading the floor created more space in the paint for Jock to operate one-on-one since defensive players could not collapse on him because they needed to stick with the sharp shooters. On the other hand, Ford’s game was stuck in quicksand until he figured out how to execute from the two spot, create his own shot, and gained his confidence as a result.

I agree with you that Landale’s scoring efficiency was remarkable and there is no question that the team was better because of it; but Ford’s production are in spite of the Landale offense not because of it. Individually, Ford had to create his own smack, figure out how to comfortably fit a large block into a tiny donut as an undersized 2-guard in an unfamiliar role. I felt some of the other shooters didn’t fare so well because of their inability to consistently create their own shot – shots other than 3 point shooting. If Ford did not have the courage to execute in critical moments and the ability to create his own shot, Ford’s season performance would have had mixed reviews today.

Finally, I would not put too much confidence in coaches making the necessary adjustments you suggested. The majority of the teams are not good at it, and some teams simply do not have the talent to execute any good plan at all. They can only hope for the best. Good post!

 

[lovin basketball]

oving Basketball,
You make an intriguing point, but I doubtitapplies to Ford. I saw just the opposite.
Folsom Guy
I really enjoyed your observation and great response!!!