蜜柚直播

As a bonus, he also gets to become a snowbird.

鈥淗e tells me all the time he鈥檚 just thankful he鈥檚 not in Winnipeg, as it gets close to winter,鈥� UA coach Sean Miller said of Akot鈥檚 chilly prairie hometown. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 a big change right there 鈥� Winnipeg, Canada, to 蜜柚直播, 蜜柚直播. He really appreciates being here.鈥�

Akot was initially scheduled to spend most of this winter at Wasatch Academy, in the Central Utah town of Mount Pleasant, but that鈥檚 sort of cold, too. And, while the Wasatch basketball program plays a competitive schedule, it鈥檚 nothing like what Akot will face at 蜜柚直播 and in the Pac-12.

So he moved here, having reclassified last spring to skip his senior season of high school and enroll at 蜜柚直播.

鈥淚 loved it at Wasatch, but I had to move on,鈥� Akot said Wednesday, after helping the Wildcats beat Eastern New Mexico 91-62 in an exhibition game at McKale Center. 鈥淚鈥檓 trying to get better and make the NBA, and I think here was the place to go.鈥�

After just four public appearances 鈥� two games in Spain, the Red-Blue Game and Wednesday鈥檚 exhibition 鈥� Akot appears to be on track. Already projected as a middle first-round pick in 2019 by ESPN, Akot came off the bench Wednesday to collect 10 points, six assists and a steal while showing the kind of effort and ranginess that has Miller saying he could be the team鈥檚 top defensive stopper.

Akot said he鈥檚 watched film of former UA forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and can understand why he鈥檚 drawn comparisons to him, but said he can make a difference in many areas.

鈥淚 think I鈥檓 extremely versatile and I can play both ends of the floor,鈥� Akot said. 鈥淚鈥檓 just out there helping my team out.鈥�

Fellow freshman Deandre Ayton called Akot鈥檚 defense 鈥渃razy,鈥� and said he鈥檚 also a good communicator.

鈥淭o me, he鈥檚 a team leader because he keeps everyone poised and he talks to everyone,鈥� Ayton said.

Akot showed off a little shooting on Wednesday, too, hitting 4 of 5 shots from the field and nailing both of the 3-pointers he attempted.

Akot shot 3 for 6 while missing his only 3-pointer during the UA鈥檚 two exhibition games in Spain in August, then went 0 for 6 from the field, missing both 3-pointers he tried in the Oct. 20 Red-Blue Game.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 an area we鈥檝e really been on him about,鈥� Miller said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 more of a pass-first player. He鈥檚 incredibly unselfish, but we need him to take the open shots when he鈥檚 given those and especially in the first half it was great to see him step in with confidence.

鈥淗e already does some other things 鈥� six assists at his size, that鈥檚 a great performance. 鈥� He has very, very good court vision. Some of the best plays you鈥檒l see him make are where he passes the ball to a teammate.鈥�

Rim shots

• Former UA forward Chance Comanche made the opening night roster of the G-League鈥檚 Memphis Hustle, joining former 蜜柚直播 teammate Kobi Simmons, who is a two-way player who will shuttle between the Hustle and Grizzlies. Comanche left 蜜柚直播 after two seasons last spring but wasn鈥檛 selected in the NBA Draft. He signed with the Hustle as a tryout player.
• Point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright went through early warmups Wednesday as part of his recovery from a sprained ankle, and is expected to play in Sunday鈥檚 exhibition against Chico State. Freshman Alex Barcello played 33 minutes Wednesday with Jackson-Cartwright out, coming up with seven points, three rebounds and two assists to two turnovers.

鈥淗e handled himself really well,鈥� Miller said. 鈥淎lex is a really tough kid, he really is. He practices a lot like T.J. McConnell did. Every day he鈥檚 the same and he鈥檚 going to do nothing but get better and better as he gets more game experience. We鈥檙e really fortunate to have him.鈥�

• Chico State will return to McKale for a third straight season. Those Wildcats are a projected top-10 Division II team, returning four starters from the team that lost only 78-70 to 蜜柚直播 last preseason. 鈥淐hico State will be an upgrade,鈥� Miller said. 鈥淐hico State has a chance to win the national championship at their level.鈥�