LOGAN – This is the final part of a three-part series previewing the Utah State men’s basketball position groups. The first part looked at the Aggie guards, the second at the wings. Finally, this installment will preview the big-men of the team.
Thankfully it’s a lot easier to define the big-men. It’s the guys listed as centers, or, mostly those guys. Dan Akin, listed as a forward, is very clearly a center on the team. He practices with the big men and largely plays in lineups where he is clearly the center. So don’t get mad that he’s not with the wings on these previews.
Dan Akin (6-9, 6th-year Sr.)
2021-22 Averages: 26.7 minutes (34 games, 33 starts) | 10.8 points | 8.1 rebounds | 1.5 assists | 0.7 steals | 1.0 blocks
2021-22 Shooting Splits: 54.1 FG% | 0.0 3PT% | 69.6 FT%
Akin took the long way around in following Ryan Odom to Utah State, making a pit-stop at Cal Baptist first where he played a major role on a team for the first time in his collegiate career. Akin will likely play a similarly big role with USU this season.
Odom has raved multiple times about Akin’s defensive versatility and it shows on the court. He moves well for someone playing center and has enough athleticism to provide rim deterrence and get a few blocks. He’ll give the Aggies great switch-ability on defense and be the anchor for what could be a solid defensive squad.
Being only 6-foot-9 but playing center as a primary position will be a tough thing for Akin to do. He has athleticism but height matters around the rim. It shows in that Akin was only slightly above average in finishing at the rim, making 56.6 percent of his shots there (he makes only 48.3 percent of his layups which is below average). Akin has a workable hook shot he likes to go to, but that shot yields below-average points per possession.
Akin likely won’t play all of his minutes at center though. With only one real power forward on the team, Akin makes the most sense to slide into the power forward spot despite being a non-shooter. And in practice he’s played plenty of minutes alongside one of the other centers so Odom’s clearly preparing for Akin to play regular PF minutes this year, even though he’ll likely start at C.
Trevin Dorius (7-1, Sr.)
2021-22 Averages: 8.1 minutes (30 games, 1 start) | 2.7 points | 2.6 rebounds | 0.1 assists | 0.3 steals | 0.4 blocks
2021-22 Shooting Splits: 59.6 FG% | N/A 3PT% | 58.8 FT%
Dorius began his career as a walk-on but is now a scholarship player and could take on the biggest role of his career thus far. He’s nominally been the primary backup center for years – it’s how he earned that scholarship – but both former head coach Craig Smith and current HC Odom haven’t been keen to play Dorius big minutes. Often they’ve gone small-ball instead and it’s why Dorius has yet to top nine minutes per game in any of his three seasons despite being the main backup, so to speak.
It’s arguable that Dorius has the best physical gifts of any of USU’s centers, being a solid athlete and the best length (maybe…would depend on Isaac Johnson’s wingspan). He hasn’t yet been able to put that together, though, as he’s not had a reliable set of hands. Bobbling rebounds and a floundering touch at the rim (he’s made just 38.7 percent of his layups in his career…as a 7-footer) Dorius’ production would skyrocket if he had softer hands.
Where Dorius doesn’t lack is in toughness and hustle. He plays hard and works hard. It’s aided him thus far and could help him finish his career strong.
Szymon Zapala (6-11, Jr.)
2021-22 Averages: 5.3 minutes (21 games, 0 starts) | 1.5 points | 1.8 rebounds | 0.1 assists | 0.0 steals | 0.3 blocks
2021-22 Shooting Splits: 65.0 FG% | N/A 3PT% | 46.2 FT%
According to 247Sports, Zapala is the highest-rated prospect the Aggies have ever reeled in. Unfortunately, he’s not seen the floor very much. But with the frontcourt clearing up there’s room for Zapala to make his move and jump into the rotation.
Zapala doesn’t have the length or athleticism of his fellow frontcourt teammates, but he has hustle and fluidity on his side. He’s an effective rebounder, owning the best rebounding percentage on the team last year (though be sure to note the small sample size of 112 minutes) and has great touch around the rim (made 73.3 percent of his shots at the rim last year). It’s now or never for Zapala to make his mark in Logan. He’s been very patient, spending two seasons as a fringe minute-getter so, hopefully, that patience is rewarded with quality playing time, and quality play.
Isaac Johnson (7-0, So.)
2021-22 Averages: 5.4 minutes (14 games, 0 starts) | 2.4 points | 1.1 rebounds | 0.2 assists | 0.0 steals | 0.0 blocks
2021-22 Shooting Splits: 60.9 FG% | 0.0 3PT% | 55.6 FT%
Despite being a transfer from Oregon, Johnson has already played in a game at the Spectrum since the Aggies hosted the Ducks in the first round of the NIT. Johnson played just four minutes in that game, making one shot, grabbing one rebound, turning the ball over once and committing one foul.
That low minute total was emblematic of Johnson’s entire season at Oregon. As a freshmen with the Ducks his playing time was very limited, only reaching double-digit minutes in games twice.
As a player, Johnson brings a lot of intriguing skill packaged in a 7-footer’s body. He’s confident enough to take threes (he made 77 threes in his high school career) and has a rather unique ability to drive to the basket for someone of his height. With more strength there’s a real chance Johnson could become a dangerous threat inside and outside the arc on offense.
With the center rotation as open as it is, Johnson has received a fair shot at earning his way into the rotation. It’s hard to say for sure if he has, but that will have to wait for opening night.
