Boston College Athletics
Konkwo Patiently Awaits Time To Shine
July 29, 2019 | Women's Basketball, #ForBoston Files
The next great ACC big is waiting for her opportunity in Chestnut Hill.
Succeeding in the ACC requires basketball teams to have a little bit of everything. Agile guards need to distribute crisp, precise passes to sharpshooters capable of hitting from anywhere on the court. They need to get back in transition after missed shots and immediately flip switches to defensive mindsets after posting points. Players require creativity and mentality within skill.
The key to almost every team, though, is the presence of a dominant, nasty center who owns the paint. There is a physicality down low that simply doesn't exist in any other league, and it requires both physical and mental fortitude. ACC-caliber bigs need to utilize that capability within fast break capabilities, even as it takes a bruising toll on a player's body and conditioning.
Boston College head coach Joanna Bernabei-McNamee inherited a player capable of going toe-to-toe with the ACC, and Emma Guy remains on the roster for her senior season this year. The future, though, remains incredibly bright thanks to the arrival of Akunna Konkwo. As a six feet, three inch presence, the freshman comes to BC with the confidence that her future will place her among those conference legends.
"It's been fun," Konkwo said. "The first practices have been great. We have a good team chemistry. Being able to be a part of this team has been what's best (about coming to BC). It's been fun to see how this team has improved from the first summer session."
Konkwo will hit the floor as one of BC's most feared newcomers. ESPN's recruiting profile described her as a "physically-imposing" post player who can score through defenders. She can get open already with quick feet, which allows her to gain opportunistic body positioning before powering to the rim.
She combines that with a defensive presence as a window washer. Konkwo owned the low block in high school and enhanced her physical strength to grab rebounds. Her agility translates to quick outlet passes that can start fast break opportunities, and it's why ESPN described her as a "sleeper prospect" for the Eagles.
"I really like to run the floor and catch some of those over the head passes," she said. "If I'm closer to the basket, I can just go up, but if there's someone behind me, I know that I can look (for a pass or a play)."
It's a well-earned reputation after a high school career spent at Bishop Ireton High School in Virginia. The Alexandria native graduated as the school's all-time leader in both points and rebounds, finishing her career with over 2,300 pounds and 1,800 boards. She averaged 18 points and 20 rebounds per game, scoring double-figures 29 times last season.
It included a 32-point performance against a highly-touted Bishop McNamara, and it followed a 40-point game against Good Council during her sophomore season. It completed a career with four Washington Catholic Athletic Conference First Team selections and three All-State honors. USA Today placed her on Virginia's all-state team in a career where the Washington Post put Bishop Ireton as high as No. 10 in its poll, seven spots behind the VISAA State Poll.
"That league is very competitive," she said. "There were some teams that were better than others, but those teams were hard to play against. I played against players who were on teams that were hard competitors. There were teams like St. John's and Bishop McNamara that were very good. (Players from those teams) are also going to Division I teams."
It places an emphasis on the luminosity of BC's future. Konkwo will miss the upcoming season after suffering a season-ending ankle injury, but the impending redshirt will only serve as an opportunity to slow down and work within the Eagles' system. She will continue rehabbing throughout the year while studying film alongside BC's current bigs under the charge of former WNBA MVP Yolanda Griffith after choosing Chestnut Hill over schools like Georgetown and Louisville.
"BC started recruiting me when I switched over to (Bishop Ireton)," Konkwo said. "My coach told me that (Coach McNamee) was interested and to give them a call. It was definitely nerve-wracking (to meet the coaches), but they were very informative. They made it known that they really want me to be a part of this team."
There are perhaps no brighter future stars than Akunna Konkwo. She is an incredibly decorated high school athlete, standing as a potential centerpiece for an ACC contender. She is embracing her new challenge, even as it stands as a difficult reminder that she's not on the court. This year will sponge all possible and available information and crunch it for the future, where she knows it will be her time to own the paint and stand taller and stronger than ever before.
The key to almost every team, though, is the presence of a dominant, nasty center who owns the paint. There is a physicality down low that simply doesn't exist in any other league, and it requires both physical and mental fortitude. ACC-caliber bigs need to utilize that capability within fast break capabilities, even as it takes a bruising toll on a player's body and conditioning.
Boston College head coach Joanna Bernabei-McNamee inherited a player capable of going toe-to-toe with the ACC, and Emma Guy remains on the roster for her senior season this year. The future, though, remains incredibly bright thanks to the arrival of Akunna Konkwo. As a six feet, three inch presence, the freshman comes to BC with the confidence that her future will place her among those conference legends.
"It's been fun," Konkwo said. "The first practices have been great. We have a good team chemistry. Being able to be a part of this team has been what's best (about coming to BC). It's been fun to see how this team has improved from the first summer session."
Konkwo will hit the floor as one of BC's most feared newcomers. ESPN's recruiting profile described her as a "physically-imposing" post player who can score through defenders. She can get open already with quick feet, which allows her to gain opportunistic body positioning before powering to the rim.
She combines that with a defensive presence as a window washer. Konkwo owned the low block in high school and enhanced her physical strength to grab rebounds. Her agility translates to quick outlet passes that can start fast break opportunities, and it's why ESPN described her as a "sleeper prospect" for the Eagles.
"I really like to run the floor and catch some of those over the head passes," she said. "If I'm closer to the basket, I can just go up, but if there's someone behind me, I know that I can look (for a pass or a play)."
It's a well-earned reputation after a high school career spent at Bishop Ireton High School in Virginia. The Alexandria native graduated as the school's all-time leader in both points and rebounds, finishing her career with over 2,300 pounds and 1,800 boards. She averaged 18 points and 20 rebounds per game, scoring double-figures 29 times last season.
It included a 32-point performance against a highly-touted Bishop McNamara, and it followed a 40-point game against Good Council during her sophomore season. It completed a career with four Washington Catholic Athletic Conference First Team selections and three All-State honors. USA Today placed her on Virginia's all-state team in a career where the Washington Post put Bishop Ireton as high as No. 10 in its poll, seven spots behind the VISAA State Poll.
"That league is very competitive," she said. "There were some teams that were better than others, but those teams were hard to play against. I played against players who were on teams that were hard competitors. There were teams like St. John's and Bishop McNamara that were very good. (Players from those teams) are also going to Division I teams."
It places an emphasis on the luminosity of BC's future. Konkwo will miss the upcoming season after suffering a season-ending ankle injury, but the impending redshirt will only serve as an opportunity to slow down and work within the Eagles' system. She will continue rehabbing throughout the year while studying film alongside BC's current bigs under the charge of former WNBA MVP Yolanda Griffith after choosing Chestnut Hill over schools like Georgetown and Louisville.
"BC started recruiting me when I switched over to (Bishop Ireton)," Konkwo said. "My coach told me that (Coach McNamee) was interested and to give them a call. It was definitely nerve-wracking (to meet the coaches), but they were very informative. They made it known that they really want me to be a part of this team."
There are perhaps no brighter future stars than Akunna Konkwo. She is an incredibly decorated high school athlete, standing as a potential centerpiece for an ACC contender. She is embracing her new challenge, even as it stands as a difficult reminder that she's not on the court. This year will sponge all possible and available information and crunch it for the future, where she knows it will be her time to own the paint and stand taller and stronger than ever before.
Players Mentioned
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