Council turned heads this season with his ability to impact the game in multiple ways. His strong drives to the basket showcased both power and control, allowing him to finish through contact and draw attention from defenses. What sets him apart are his instincts and feel for the game, he knows when to attack, when to find teammates and how to read the flow of play. Combine that with his natural scoring ability, and Council became a reliable offensive weapon. With his instincts, strength and scoring touch, expect Council to make an even bigger impact this summer

Akai Council Akai Council 6'2" | PG Liberty | 2027 State CO provides Liberty with a fluid play style and solid ball protection in transition. Racking up 15.8 PPG while shooting 50% from the field, Council is a consistent threat off the dribble and has no problem blowing by defenders to get to his spot. One of Council’s strongest abilities is snagging defensive rebounds and attacking defenses downhill, translating to easy buckets in transition. Paired with the shifty and lengthy Cameron Cunningham, these two have annihilated the competition and brought a massive volume of offense to a 6-4 Liberty squad striving to add crucial wins at this point in the season.

Council has established himself as one of the top players in his league by impacting the game in every possible way for Liberty. Filling up the stat sheet with 17 points, 7 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 3 steals per game, he consistently sets the tone with his aggressive playing style. He relentlessly attacks defenses, gets downhill with a head of steam and finds gaps that others can’t exploit. Once he gets rolling the game slows down for him and the buckets come in bunches, making him a constant threat and a nightmare to guard for any team they play

Akai made a rise in my personal rankings as players that I enjoy watching with the way that he’s able to stay involved in a game and impact it in ways that go just beyond scoring. He reads defenses, finds gaps in the defense, and can open up the floor. It also helps that he’s a microwave scoring option as well that knows when to attack. Akai had a solid summer where he turned heads with his ability to compete, but what did it for me was him coming to our showcase and battling with some of the top players in the class and proving he belongs. He can go. Liberty is a team that I will be high on this season, as they have one of the top backcourt duos in the state. 

Council is a high IQ player with excellent ball handling skills and a calm, controlled presence on the floor. He’s a true three level scorer who can create his own shot, finish through contact at the rim, pull up in the midrange and knock down shots from beyond the arc. His offensive versatility allows him to contribute both on and off the ball. Defensively Council is tough and disciplined, with the ability to switch across multiple positions. He times his rotations well, communicates on the floor and takes pride in locking down his assignment. His blend of skill, intelligence, and defensive effort makes him a dependable two way contributor

Council is a player that I’m intrigued by because he was one of the few players who played the right way at the event. He plays within the flow of the offense, is a three-level scorer, and gets to his spots. What impressed me about Akai is that, although other teammates were gunning and taking ill-advised shots, he still made the extra pass and attacked when the opportunity presented itself. He plays at his own pace, controls tempo, and can create for himself or teammates off the dribble. What I think will separate him is body language. I understand that it can be frustrating to not get the ball when it’s there, but with a player that is about process the way that he is, still going through the correct motions still has you as a standout – maybe even more. He was one of the more skilled players at the event and appears to be a player you can plug and play on any team. I am high on Akai after this event. 

Council has the skill to be one of the class’s top players and scorers. Now it’s about proving it in a setting packed with different competition and a role he wants to be in. He averaged 9.3 points, 2.0 steals, and 2.6 assists last season, but this is where we want to see him in takeover mode. This showcase is a direct shot to rise in the rankings and show he can dominate against upperclassmen talent. The opportunity is right here.

Akai can look unstoppable when he’s locked in. He’s a crafty scorer who can break you down off the dribble, hit open shots, and make plays on both ends. But at times, he’s passive, and that takes away from the best part of his game, being able to take over. With a big offensive piece gone this year, he’ll need to take the reins. I expect him to raise that 9.3 PPG he had as a sophomore to 15+ and form one of the top backcourts in the state. Big rise coming and with that, a jump in rankings go with it.

Council was a straight-up problem on both ends of the floor. Offensively, he made buckets and led his team in scoring and made it look easy. Once he got into rhythm, there really wasn’t much the defense could do. He’d rise for the pull up with confidence, and more often than not, it was going in. Defenders had a tough time keeping up with him because he scored in so many ways. As good as he was on offense, it was his defense that really stole the show. He was locked in all weekend, making life miserable for anyone he was guarding. Whether it was shutting down drives, contesting shots, or just applying nonstop pressure, he brought the energy and intensity every possession. You saw he took pride in his defense—he wasn’t just trying to outscore people, he was trying to completely take them out of the game

A massive addition for this Liberty team, Council has gotten to the rim at will, bringing the quick first step and ability to elevate above opposing defenses. That athletic advantage has been crucial towards sustaining his success at this level, getting his oppoertunties on a very consistent basis despite not shooting the ball all that much. Defensively, he can be an x-factor for this group, capable of matching up against the better perimeter playmakers of opposing teams when needed.