Duquesne Dukes Fan Forum / Dom Aekins Commits

**Posted by Bsduq2008** 7/19/2023 2:56 pm

https://twitter.com/domaekins1/status/1681743519566778368?s=46&t=Z3jMhAew7YhUXCgWIwVyMg

Interesting 2024 PG

Last edited by Bsduq2008 (7/19/2023 3:03 pm)

**Posted by Bsduq2008** 7/19/2023 3:02 pm

5’8 PG from Ohio.

Class: 2024
School: Walnut Ridge

Can’t find much else on him. Was honorable mention in his district last year.

https://twitter.com/prepu_hoops/status/1667466780552445953?s=46&t=3GiUQdVS6UUZ4xDNaZXoBQ

**Posted by PistolPete** 7/19/2023 3:12 pm

How many PG's under 6' are we going to recruit?????????? Just sayin...........

**Posted by townsonkid** 7/19/2023 3:24 pm

we're losing a lot of players after this season, might as well start filling up now.
Need guards, kid seems like he can score. He looks quick as a cat and is getting glowing reports from summer ball. And he has a year to get better/develop/grow as a player.

**Posted by Wildwood13** 7/19/2023 3:28 pm

PistolPete wrote:
How many PG's under 6' are we going to recruit?????????? Just sayin...........

Not under 6’0 but under 5’9 and of course from Ohio. Not ripping on the kid, just the judgement of our recruiting strategy. The Dukes got to expand on our domestic players to include players from the east coast. I hope he succeeds, because I always root for the smaller point guard.

**Posted by CLK** 7/19/2023 4:00 pm

This kid looks lightning quick. Could turn out to be a major steal for the Dukes.

**Posted by phil95** 7/19/2023 6:48 pm

Ranked as the 17th overall recruit for OH's 2024 class & 4th best PG.

This is from 7-6-23
Aekins is one of the smallest 17 U players at the PIT or Peach Jam and has had some moments with his quickness and ability to get into the lane. Watching the All Ohio Red 17 U team twice on Monday, Aekins was able to get into the lane and typically looked for the floater as a shot. Struggling from the perimeter to make jumpers, Aekins will look to be more efficient on the perimeter. Defensively, Aekins was really getting after ball handlers and making their lives tough. With nine steals in 68 minutes, that’s been the one area of the game where he’s had a real positive impact for his team. I expect low major coaches to have close eyes on Aekins this weekend.

This is from 6-22-23
Walnut Ridge has some of the top talent in the Columbus City league, Aekins is a must watch for low major and Division II programs this weekend.

**Posted by CLK** 7/19/2023 7:09 pm

Good information, Phil, thanks. As I was discussing with a friend, We will have a big returning core next year and room to recruit additional bigger guards. Don't think we will have to see two sub 6 foot guards on the floor at the same time. The kid looks extremely quick. He averaged 29 points in a tough conference last season. We will see.

**Posted by kneeguy** 7/20/2023 6:30 am

Phil95 quotes a report saying he is a "must watch" for "low major of Division II programs."
Really? And Duquesne signed him. Is this the kind of player we want at the point? A Division II "must watch"?

**Posted by HookShot** 7/20/2023 6:43 am

Kids develop at different paces. This young man is quick, plays D, and has improved his jump shot. He easily dunks the ball. He will get stronger as he matures. He reminds me of all of the small guards Richmond has had over the past years as I watch his videos. The Columbus city league is good. Thinking he is a good one.

**Posted by phil95** 7/20/2023 7:40 am

kneeguy wrote:
Phil95 quotes a report saying he is a "must watch" for "low major of Division II programs."
Really? And Duquesne signed him. Is this the kind of player we want at the point? A Division II "must watch"?

I have some questions about this one as well but, the point of my post is that he went from low D-1/DII quality to someone low major D-1 schools will have eyes on in under a month. He must be having a tremendous summer.

Getting him committed now is what a "steal" looks like in the recruiting world.

**Posted by FAM** 7/20/2023 7:50 am

Wow! Maybe next we can rave about a Division III guy.
Sorry, but this is the A10 n this is not a way to succeed.

Again, nothing personal against him and I hope he succeeds and I am wrong, but this is not the path to try to get better.

**Posted by CLK** 7/20/2023 8:45 am

I think some people are going off the deep end based on one basketball recruiting "expert" observations at one event. This is another comment from another guru:

.@DomAekins1 was the most electrifying player at the @OhioStateHoops team camp. He scored effortlessly and played great defense. Aekins has made significant strides as a playmaker and it was on full display this weekend.

When I see this kid he looks to me to be a young Tevin Brewer, who turned out to have a pretty good college career. I see him as a future piece for the Dukes. It is not like we won't have some pretty good point guards returning next year.

Dambrot is losing it? Really? Every publication or prediction I have seen shows the Dukes to finish in the top three this year. I think he knows the way to succeed.

**Posted by townsonkid** 7/20/2023 9:29 am

Discussing this kid like he is the next Penny Hardaway. Cmon. I know its a boring time of year, but geez, do you not realize we lose like 7 players, at least, after this year? Its one spot. He still has a year in HS. If he grows 2 inches, like I did every year in HS, would he then be ok in yinz eyes?

Last edited by townsonkid (7/20/2023 11:57 am)

**Posted by stew** 7/20/2023 10:05 am

I live 10 miles from Walnut Ridge,home of the fighting Scots.Will be watching Aekins providing reports this winter.Columbus has a lot of talented basketball players,good place to recruit, Most famous alumni was
Ed Stahl ,a 6-10 center who led the Scots to a state championship in early 1970s.

**Posted by stew** 7/20/2023 10:21 am

DOM averaged 28 points a game .This isnt the Pittsburgh City League,basketball is taken seriously here.
Welcome Dom,,excited to see you chose Duquesne. Welcome !!!!!!!!!!!!

**Posted by stew** 7/20/2023 10:52 am

Duquesne has a connection with Walnut Ridge.Vince Clarno was a walk on at Duquesne who played at Walnut Ridge.

**Posted by Mulder** 7/22/2023 7:35 am

CLK wrote:
I think some people are going off the deep end based on one basketball recruiting "expert" observations at one event. This is another comment from another guru:

.@DomAekins1 was the most electrifying player at the @OhioStateHoops team camp. He scored effortlessly and played great defense. Aekins has made significant strides as a playmaker and it was on full display this weekend.

When I see this kid he looks to me to be a young Tevin Brewer, who turned out to have a pretty good college career. I see him as a future piece for the Dukes. It is not like we won't have some pretty good point guards returning next year.

Dambrot is losing it? Really? Every publication or prediction I have seen shows the Dukes to finish in the top three this year. I think he knows the way to succeed.

Excellent post

**Posted by phil95** 7/22/2023 10:08 am

Even though it is impossible to deny that Brewer,TDM, Jackie Johnson, & Rozier were/are all low to mid-level A-10 talents, I don't care for KD's proclivity for bringing in mini-guards because there is just such a low probability of such players becoming top 50 players in the conference; let alone stars. I also don't have much faith in KD's ability to maximize the contributions of these smaller players while not playing them 25 minutes a game or 10 minutes a game, as appropriate to their production, while keeping them happy enough to remain the program. (See TDM & JJ.)

Both because of the recent uptick in interest in Dom & the changes in recruiting philosophies/NIL policies, I see this signing differently than those others. It is now clear that there will be 15ish scholarship worthy players on the roster each season for the foreseeable future. This makes taking a calculated risk on a high probability "steal" of a prospect early in his recruiting cycle a reasonably solid decision.

**Posted by phil95** 7/22/2023 10:36 am

kneeguy wrote:
Phil95 quotes a report saying he is a "must watch" for "low major of Division II programs."
Really? And Duquesne signed him. Is this the kind of player we want at the point? A Division II "must watch"?

It was "low D-1 & D-II" programs & then quickly upgraded to low-Major D-1 programs based on Dom's summer play. That is quite different from what you wrote above.

I would be thrilled if at any time in the future DU would be considered a low-major D-1 program.

I have no better idea than anyone else on this board if Dom will be a hero or a bust but, I do know that no other guard in the program has been described so favorably as a rising high school senior.

Last edited by phil95 (7/22/2023 10:37 am)

**Posted by phil95** 7/22/2023 10:39 am

phil95 wrote:
kneeguy wrote:
Phil95 quotes a report saying he is a "must watch" for "low major of Division II programs."
Really? And Duquesne signed him. Is this the kind of player we want at the point? A Division II "must watch"?
It was "low D-1 & D-II" programs & then quickly upgraded to low-Major D-1 programs based on Dom's summer play. That is quite different from what you wrote above.

I would be thrilled if at any time in the future DU would be considered a low-major D-1 program.

I have no better idea than anyone else on this board if Dom will be a hero or a bust but, I do know that no other guard in the program has been described so favorably as a rising high school senior.