Former 2012 Commit PF Gary Akbar

[Zip Watcher]

At least I didn't decide that he's a one-dimensional player who's only good for his rebounding. Or that he's too short/skinny to play PF.Sorry for being excited to see this kid commit here.

Perhaps he rescinded because the all knowing & posting Zach told him he'd be redshirting. That sounded like a trap, so he's off.

[Zipmeister]

It may be interesting to follow his basketball career. Dunbar has a habit of graduating players who are not academically qualified to play college DI ball.

[Dave in Green]

We didn't really like the guy anyway, right?

[Quickzips]

Not to take anything away from Akbar, but with the depth and youth we have the next couple years at the SF and PF positions I'm not entirely disappointed by this. The Zips are going to be in need of a C to start grooming behind Zeke and using that last scholarship on a big man makes a lot more sense to me. Of course you have to find a guy who actually has some skill, but that is another conversation entirely. Good luck to Mr. Akbar, wherever he may land.

[Valpo Zip]

I trust that KD has seen major upside potential in Akbar, and we'll just have to wait and see how much of that potential is realized.

I would disagree. At 6' 5", and judging from is Jr season stats, being from Dunbar, the kid isn't a project. He's ready to rebound now.6' 5" is a really common size in the MAC. For him to commit in July means we really wanted him. I'd expect a double-double average from him in his upcoming senior HS season. I know KD has been searching for "The Next Wood/Travis" for a couple years. Akbar looks to fit the bill.

The MAC has a tradition of small 4-spot players. Coach Jim Larranaga, when he was at BG had one of the toughest guys I can remember under the boards. If Akbar can be as tough as him, the Rowdies might be chanting "Allahu Akbar!"

Awww! I'm so disappointed! I was looking forward to hear the Rowdies chanting "Allahu Akbar"

[Dave in Green]

True centers with DI potential are a rare breed. I sure hope KD can find one. But the odds are against finding Zeke II.

[Roo]

True centers with DI potential are a rare breed. I sure hope KD can find one. But the odds are against finding Zeke II.

We still need a center..not another undersized PF.I am not disappointed in this at all. I hope KD will go out there and find a true big now.

[Captain Kangaroo]

True centers with DI potential are a rare breed. I sure hope KD can find one. But the odds are against finding Zeke II.

We still need a center..not another undersized PF.I am not disappointed in this at all. I hope KD will go out there and find a true big now.

I forget...how tall were Butler and VCU's centers? Butler had a 6' 11" kid that played about 20mpg, and Matt Howard was 6' 8".VCU didn't have any 7-footers.KD needs to find another rebounding machine. Then we're set.

[Zipmeister]

True centers with DI potential are a rare breed. I sure hope KD can find one. But the odds are against finding Zeke II.

We still need a center..not another undersized PF.I am not disappointed in this at all. I hope KD will go out there and find a true big now.

I forget...how tall were Butler and VCU's centers? Butler had a 6' 11" kid that played about 20mpg, and Matt Howard was 6' 8".VCU didn't have any 7-footers.KD needs to find another rebounding machine. Then we're set.

Butler's center is 6'11"" with a 6'9" backup.VCU has a 7'0" center and lists three 6'9" forwards.

[Captain Kangaroo]

Butler's center is 6'11"" with a 6'9" backup.VCU has a 7'0" center and lists three 6'9" forwards.

The VCU Frosh doesn't play too much (yet, at least). The VCU site says he's their 1st 7-footer in a decade. VCU's impact guys are the 6' 9'ers.Without belaboring a point...Zeke is a gift. I don't expect KD to pull another 7-footer off the street any time soon. KD doesn't seem to go for the "project" type players (a la John Edwards).It would be great to get one or two 6' 9" bangers.

[Doug Snyder]

I think the only way we get another Zeke is to have 2 great years and a solid and deep core returning for the future. Some kid may see the opportunity to step right in and not have to carry the team. More likely we will find some 6'9 to 6'10 kid and hope he grows a few inches. Size is nice...but you don't really need size to be a great defender or rebounder.I have faith that KD will find the correct path.

[Dave in Green]

There just aren't that many tall, skilled, true centers available. Most DI teams, including some of the stronger majors, get by with a 6-9ish power forward playing center. The key is finding one with enough skill and heart to do the job.We should savor every minute Zeke is on the floor in a Zips uniform, as the odds of UA getting a commitment from another player with his combination of skill and size are really small.Having said that, the Zips could do really well in the future if they could land the right 6-9ish power forward, play him at center, and surround him with the right teammates.With the caliber of players KD has been recruiting lately, this is not an unrealistic expectation.

[Quickzips]

True centers with DI potential are a rare breed. I sure hope KD can find one. But the odds are against finding Zeke II.

We still need a center..not another undersized PF.I am not disappointed in this at all. I hope KD will go out there and find a true big now.

I forget...how tall were Butler and VCU's centers? Butler had a 6' 11" kid that played about 20mpg, and Matt Howard was 6' 8".VCU didn't have any 7-footers.KD needs to find another rebounding machine. Then we're set.

Butler's center is 6'11"" with a 6'9" backup.VCU has a 7'0" center and lists three 6'9" forwards.

The point I would like to make is that after the 2012-13 season we have nobody on our roster or in our signed or verballed commits who is over 6'7" and I am not sure that we have anyone who is really a "rebounding machine" either. The Zips are going to HAVE to address this sooner rather than later. I would much rather have a guy in here during that 2012-13 season who is 6'9", 6'10" plus who can learn a little bit behind Zeke than try and find that guy after Zeke is already gone. Heck even if we have to redshirt a kid I would be alright with that. I guess I've gotten a little spoiled, but I don't like the idea of the biggest guy on our team being 6'7".

[Quickzips]

There just aren't that many tall, skilled, true centers available. Most DI teams, including some of the stronger majors, get by with a 6-9ish power forward playing center. The key is finding one with enough skill and heart to do the job.We should savor every minute Zeke is on the floor in a Zips uniform, as the odds of UA getting a commitment from another player with his combination of skill and size are really small.Having said that, the Zips could do really well in the future if they could land the right 6-9ish power forward, play him at center, and surround him with the right teammates.With the caliber of players KD has been recruiting lately, this is not an unrealistic expectation.

Let me clarify a little bit more, as I posted above, the biggest guy (not including Zeke and Nik) currently on our roster and/or in our known verbals is 6'7" (Egner, Treadwell and Harney are all listed there). Nik graduates this year, Zeke the year after. I understand that 7'0"+ true C's aren't exactly a dime a dozen, and have no expectations that we will be able to land someone the caliber of a Zeke whenever we so please. I would be perfectly fine with a 6'9" or 6'10" power forward who can nominally play the "Center" position at this level. I don't see that guy on our roster, right now for when Zeke leaves. That is why I am ok with Akbar de-verballing. If it opens things up to find that kind of player then I am perfectly fine with it.

[Blue & Gold]

Maybe a JUCO 5? K.e.nt landed 6'11" Justin Manns and while he's a far cry from a Zeke, I think I'd be extremely happy w/ a player like Manns backing up Big Z.

[Doug Snyder]

I just looked at the rosters over the 5 years. It was a little surprising to find that none of the players grew. And if you look at the current roster, it appears there are no kids that are likely to fill out or grow enough to be effective at the center position...especially against higher level competition. So..I agree with QuickZip that we need to find someone over the next year or so. Although I am not to worried that there are no scholarships available...there are always guys who transfer because they are not getting the expected playing time (or other reasons). My guess it KD see the problem too and is working on it as we debate the issue.

[Zipmeister]

I just looked at the rosters over the 5 years. It was a little surprising to find that none of the players grew. And if you look at the current roster, it appears there are no kids that are likely to fill out or grow enough to be effective at the center position...especially against higher level competition. So..I agree with QuickZip that we need to find someone over the next year or so. Although I am not to worried that there are no scholarships available...there are always guys who transfer because they are not getting the expected playing time (or other reasons). My guess it KD see the problem too and is working on it as we debate the issue.

Not so fast there Dougie. I believe Abreu has been saving up a growth spurt just for that reason.

[Doug Snyder]

I just looked at the rosters over the 5 years. It was a little surprising to find that none of the players grew. And if you look at the current roster, it appears there are no kids that are likely to fill out or grow enough to be effective at the center position...especially against higher level competition. So..I agree with QuickZip that we need to find someone over the next year or so. Although I am not to worried that there are no scholarships available...there are always guys who transfer because they are not getting the expected playing time (or other reasons). My guess it KD see the problem too and is working on it as we debate the issue.

Not so fast there Dougie. I believe Abreu has been saving up a growth spurt just for that reason.

Point center?? Hmmmm...sounds tough to defend

[Roo]

There just aren't that many tall, skilled, true centers available. Most DI teams, including some of the stronger majors, get by with a 6-9ish power forward playing center. The key is finding one with enough skill and heart to do the job.We should savor every minute Zeke is on the floor in a Zips uniform, as the odds of UA getting a commitment from another player with his combination of skill and size are really small.Having said that, the Zips could do really well in the future if they could land the right 6-9ish power forward, play him at center, and surround him with the right teammates.With the caliber of players KD has been recruiting lately, this is not an unrealistic expectation.

Let me clarify a little bit more, as I posted above, the biggest guy (not including Zeke and Nik) currently on our roster and/or in our known verbals is 6'7" (Egner, Treadwell and Harney are all listed there). Nik graduates this year, Zeke the year after. I understand that 7'0"+ true C's aren't exactly a dime a dozen, and have no expectations that we will be able to land someone the caliber of a Zeke whenever we so please. I would be perfectly fine with a 6'9" or 6'10" power forward who can nominally play the "Center" position at this level. I don't see that guy on our roster, right now for when Zeke leaves. That is why I am ok with Akbar de-verballing. If it opens things up to find that kind of player then I am perfectly fine with it.

This!I don't get why people assume we mean that we need another Zeke, that would be great to get another 7 footer but as Zeke has shown, just because he is 7 foot doesn't mean a whole lot.But what we don't need is 6'5 PFs....we need to get some kids in here that have legit size. 6'8s, 6'9s etc.. We need some bangers, not only because we haven't had one since Wood, but because we have nothing in the pipeline for when Zeke leaves.