‘He's one of the guys that I have a lot of trust in'
You better hope you end up on his team.
This was the reality this spring at the Fermor Avenue location as Winnipeg Sea Bears forward Emmanuel Akot was a frequent visitor as he worked his way back into game shape after an ankle injury.
Ruth Bonneville / Free Press Files
Winnipegger and Winnipeg Sea Bears guard Emmanuel Akot has started seven of the team's 11 games and is averaging 9.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 28 minutes per game.
It should go without saying, but yes, he did dominate.
'Oh yeah, yeah, yeah,' confirmed Akot after the Sea Bears concluded practice on Tuesday at the Canada Life Centre. 'That helped my confidence a lot.'
So did last summer when he joined his hometown Sea Bears in late May. There aren't many players who call Winnipeg home that have his size and athleticism, so at the very least, it was worth Sea Bears head coach and general manager Mike Taylor giving him a shot even though there wasn't an obvious spot for him in the rotation. Akot hadn't yet made a name for himself in the CEBL as he only played two games with the Ottawa Blackjacks the year before.
Suiting up for his city seemed to be the perfect fit as Akot managed to hit the ground running and ended up being one of the few bright spots on a team with constant roster turnover as he closed out the campaign averaging 11.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists. His best performance came against the Saskatchewan Rattlers last June when he exploded for 23 points while shooting 82 per cent from the field and hit the Target Score Time winner to lead the Sea Bears to a 103-101 victory at home.
'That was really my first time getting significant minutes as a pro. It gave myself confidence knowing that the work I'm putting in is paying off and I can play with a lot of these really good pros in this league,' said Akot, 26.
'It was a summer that built a lot of confidence within myself.'
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Unfortunately for him, he wasn't able to build off it when he went overseas this past winter. Akot signed with KK Wloclawek in Poland's top league and was expected to have a big role, but his season was over before it started as he tore ligaments in his ankle in an exhibition game and had to return to Winnipeg for surgery and treatment.
It was the first serious injury Akot, who played five NCAA seasons between Arizona, Boise State and Western Kentucky, has ever had.
'It was tough because, at that point, I was rolling pretty good in the pre-season, and then I had to go eight or nine months without basketball,' said Akot.
'I came back home, had the surgery, and I couldn't do anything. I couldn't walk.'
It forced him to put everything into this summer's CEBL season. Instead of hooping across Europe, he was bouncing back and forth between the Sport for Life Centre and YMCA to treat his ankle and work on his craft.
He was the first player the Sea Bears signed for 2025.
'Last year, when we signed him, we signed him because he's a talented Winnipeg guy and we want the best Winnipeg guys playing in Winnipeg,' said Taylor.
'But the way Emman came in, he shot the ball so well from three, he played so well at both positions, the three and the four, that he was a guy that we really relied on. This year, we planned a bigger role for him. Unfortunately, he got hurt (in Poland), but he recovered, got his foot right, and has really helped our team this season as well. I love his energy; I love his versatility.
'Last year, when we signed him, we signed him because he's a talented Winnipeg guy and we want the best Winnipeg guys playing in Winnipeg.'–Mike Taylor, Sea Bears head coach and general manager
'He's one of the guys that I have a lot of trust in.'
Even with a star duo on the roster in guard Jalen Harris and centre Simi Shittu, Akot is still one of the most important players on the floor. The former Kildonan East product has started seven of the team's 11 games and is averaging 9.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 28 minutes per game.
As for where he goes next, Akot said he's leaving that up to his agent to handle, but he is eager to get a full season under his belt somewhere. A return to Europe, or a spot in the NBA G League could be on the horizon.
'I think he'll have opportunities overseas, but you know, I coached over there for 20 years, to me, it's about finding the right place. And if he can find the right place with the right coach, that's going to put him in the right situation, that's gold,' said Taylor. 'So, we'll see how things develop for him. All I know is, for us right now in Winnipeg he's an excellent player and we really appreciate everything he does for our team.'
The Sea Bears started this past weekend's road trip with a bang by beating the Vancouver Bandits (8-3) 92-85 on Friday. Canadian big Simi Shittu had a massive outing with 27 points and 14 boards.
Two nights later in Edmonton, it was a different story as the Stingers prevailed 98-85 to drop Winnipeg to 5-6. Shittu had another impressive showing with 30 points and 12 rebounds.
The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for the Sea Bears.
'The Vancouver win showed our potential to be great is there. We just have to stay disciplined to do the same things all over again for 40 minutes, every game,' said rookie forward Nathan Bilamu.
'But you could see with the Vancouver game that our potential to go all the way is there.'
The Sea Bears host the Scarborough Shooting Stars (6-5) Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Canada Life Centre.
taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca
Taylor AllenReporter
Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor.
Every piece of reporting Taylor produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
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