Recruiting Report: Joe Abiakam (2017)
Practice is where the real competition takes place for the Denver East Angels. That’s especially true in the backcourt. “Practices are really intense,” said Joe Abiakam, a 6-2 senior. “We’ve got one thing on our minds: a state championship. We…
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Continue ReadingPractice is where the real competition takes place for the Denver East Angels.
That’s especially true in the backcourt.
“Practices are really intense,” said Joe Abiakam, a 6-2 senior. “We’ve got one thing on our minds: a state championship. We have to work. We have talent and depth, but that doesn’t come without work. So we’re going at each other. Me and Daylen are going at each other. Me and Jamison are going at each other. Every player is going at every other player on that team.”
Daylen is Daylen Kountz, the top-rated player in the 2018 class. The 6-4 wing is sitting out until January after transferring from George Washington. Jamison Washington, a highly ranked 6-2 senior guard, is also sitting out after transferring from Lincoln.
That has left plenty of playing time for Abiakam, and he’s shown his a key piece of an East team that has looked dominant thus far even with Kountz and Washington sidelined.
Abiakam is well regarded for his defensive prowess.
“That’s what I do,” he said. “Before I even knew how to shoot the ball, I was playing defense.”
Abiakam takes great pride in his defensive work, and his length and athleticism always him to be very productive as an on-ball defender on the perimeter. Often his pressure will extend into the backcourt as the point man in East’s full-court press.
That skill was evident during East’s 69-41 victory over Palmer on Monday night in the first round of the Fairview Festival in Boulder. Abiakam had six steals, which helped ignite offense he created for himself (he finished with 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting) and others (seven assists).
His improvement as an offensive finisher has been particularly notable.
“Coach (Rudy) Carey really wanted me to highlight being a pure point guard and being a leader on the team this year,” Abiakam said. “Just control the game and control the pace and get my teammates involved.”
Abiakam attended a camp this summer at Hampton University in Virginia and said he’s been recruited by the Pirates’ coaching staff since.
“That’s the school I want to go to,” said Abiakam, who does profile and a low D-I, high D-II level guard.