MD Baller Banging In Portugal

Ron Bailey, Publisher

October 30, 2007 – From Eleanor Roosevelt High School (MD), to Quinnipiac University to the Portuguese professional ranks; that’s been Vic Akinyanju’s course over the last five years. For the 6’5” post player to have made it is a testament to his drive and knowledge of the game.

Playing for Angra Basket, a second division team based in Terceira - an island which is part of the Azores chain - Akinyanju before the season shared his acclimation to European life and hoops was going well. “It's a great country” said Vic, who also noted “The only downside is not being able to speak Portuguese, but the majority of the people try and work with you”.

Hoops-wise, his transition was also proceeding favorably then, as Angra Basket had him “playing the forward position” which allow him to “post up or take my man off the dribble”.

Reached recently via e-mail, Akinyanju updated the season has started and “Things are alright”. Team wise, Angra is “1-3”, while personally he’s “getting off to a slow start averaging 11 points and 14 boards”. Despite his characterization of starting out sluggishly, those 14 caroms per game leads the ProLiga - Angra’s league - in rebounding.

Akinyanju this summer after Kenner League action.

Based on his performance in this year’s Jabbo Kenner League, there is no wonder Akinyanju is impacting Angra favorably: It was a common occurrence to see Vic besting bigger players from major colleges by using his strength, quickness, and knowledge of the game. In fact, Akinyanju’s performance routinely had many attendees asking who he was, and where did he come from?

Akinyanju believes attending Quinnipiac prepped him for professional ball. “My college experience helped me prepare for the rigorous training over here” he said. “Also my knowledge of the game plays big out here because defense is a priority but obviously offense is the key. So I think playing college ball helped a lot defensive wise”.

That experience has also helped Vic adjust to basketball in Portugal, generally, which he describes as not differing greatly, though “they are not as athletic as Americans and the majority of the players here can shoot”. Additionally he opined “Their intensity on defense is not like ours”, nevertheless “they play hard like there is no tomorrow”.

Akinyanju’s tale should be instructive for young players, for despite not being the biggest or most athletic player, he simply grinds opponents, and consequently is now a professional basketball player.

Young people, the next time you hear you are not tall enough, can’t jump high, or are not the fastest player on the court, think of Vic, learn the game, and maybe, just maybe, you can first earn a college scholarship, and eventually get paid to play.