Baylor's James Akinjo Drops 14 Points at Day 1 of NBA G League Elite Camp
Baylor Bears point guard James Akinjo is already making the most of his opportunity as the 2022 NBA Draft approaches.
After receiving an invite to the G League Elite Camp last week, Akinjo secured his chance to perform in front of pro-level scouts, as the Elite Camp provides a chance for a handful of draft hopefuls to showcase their skills despite not receiving an invite to the NBA Combine.
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He wasted no time Monday night with the start of the Elite Camp at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, as the 21-year-old got the starting nod and tied a team-high in scoring for Team Two with 14 points on an efficient 6-7 shooting. He also tied a team-high with four assists while adding four rebounds and two steals.
Team Two lost 97-81, as Kansas forward and Big-12 foe Jalen Wilson scored a game-high 18 points for Team One.
Akinjo will get another chance to shine in front of NBA scouts when the Elite Camp concludes Tuesday night. The 6-1, 190-pound Oakland native declared for the draft on March 30, but said he would continue working toward a degree at Baylor in an official statement:
After talking it over with my family, I've decided to pursue my dream and enter the NBA Draft. Thank you to the Baylor coaching staff for welcoming me into the program, to my teammates for helping me get better every day, and to the Baylor Family for your support this past year. I plan to hire an agent, but will continue working toward earning a Baylor degree.
Akinjo, a two-time transfer who spent two years at Georgetown and one at Arizona before arriving to Baylor last offseason, started all 32 games he appeared in and averaged 13.5 points, 5.8 assists, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.0 steals on 38.3 percent shooting this season.
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Kevin Jairaj, USA TODAY
Kevin Jairaj, USA TODAY
He was named to the All-Big 12 First Team and AP All-American Third Team while being a finalist for the Bob Cousy Award, an annual award given to the nation's top collegiate point guard.
Though Akinjo wasn't with the team for the 2021 title run, the Bears held similar expectations throughout this season before earning the No. 1 in the East Region of the NCAA Tournament in March.
After winning their first-round matchup in dominant 85-49 fashion against No. 16 Norfolk State, the Bears' season would come to an abrupt end in the second round at the hands of eventual national runners-ups North Carolina in a 93-86 overtime loss.
Akinjo helped spark Baylor back from a 25-point deficit against the eighth-seeded Tar Heels before tying the game at 80-all following an and-one layup and free throw with 15 seconds remaining in regulation. He finished the game with 20 points, four rebounds, five assists, and three steals on 6-20 from the field.
Akinjo faces an uphill battle to be selected in the draft on Thursday, June 23, but will look to join Baylor teammates Kendall Brown and Jeremy Sochan as draftees. Regardless, he'll certainly be a lock for an NBA Summer League roster spot, which means another chance to catch the eye of a team willing to take a chance on him.
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