Photo by: Todd Goodrich
Senior Spotlight: Q&A with Jamar Akoh
3/26/2019 1:02:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Prior to the conclusion fo the 2018-19 men's basketball season, Glenn Junkert of GoGriz.com sat with each departing senior to reflect on his Montana career, his favorite memories and more. Junkert's entire senior feature about the players' continued focus on academics and athletics can be found online.
Jamar Akoh / Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
On transferring to Montana from Cal State Fullerton: I had never heard much about Montana, but Chris Cobb reached out to me and told me that I should take a visit because I might be surprised. I did, and loved it here.
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On his basketball skills: I've always had the ability to defend, and I usually put myself in a good spot. I'm not the most gifted athlete, and I don't have blinding speed, but I've taught myself to put myself in a good position… that and the fact that I have quick hands, so it's the combination of the two. A lot of times, I don't even get the steals, I deflect it and one of my teammates gets the steal because of the rhythm of the game being disrupted. I love to disrupt things, since I was blessed with amazing and quick hands. I also have the skill to move my feet laterally pretty well, so that comes in with being able disrupt the flow of the game. I also developed the knack in rebounding to see the trajectory of shots and where the ball is going to come off the rim and where to anticipate positioning for rebounding.
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On his favorite Griz Hoops memory: Interestingly, one game that really pops out to me was last season against North Dakota here. We scored 100 points and it was just a fun game. I don't think I played that great, but the other guys, the young guys – Timmy (Falls) and some of the other young guys – really had a good game, and it was a game that was really fun to watch. Obviously, also, the games in last year's Big Sky tournament, things went our way. It was so fun to just be part of that, especially the Northern Colorado game that almost looked like it was going to be over and somehow we pulled it out. That's something that I'll remember forever. Of course the NCAAs were an amazing experience. It's something that, as a kid, you just want to experience. It was great just to get to go – flying there, getting there, seeing the fans, feeling the atmosphere. It was a treat, especially since we played a really good Michigan team and played them well. We ended up really proud about how we played.
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On his teammates: I think I've built a really good relationship with these guys. We're a tight-knit group. They're the kind of relationships that I can visualize continuing for a long time.
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On his time as a student: I've really had a great experience here at Montana as a student. I've been really blessed to be able to walk out of here with two degrees, one in marketing and the other in management. I've got plans for my own business. If I could play somewhere overseas and make some money, then maybe start a business or put some investment into a business; I've thought about both. This past summer I got some experience working two internships – one with Draught Works brewery, where I did a marketing position, then I did a management internship over with Sheehan Majestic. I got some experience under my belt and got to see the real world of business management.
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On his favorite class: Last semester I took a digital marketing class taught by adjunct professor June Moore. I really enjoyed her class. It really changed my perspective on business. A couple of years ago, I took a class by a really good professor, Jason Trish. It was an Excel class, and he really taught me a lot. Those two classes stood out for me.
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On his role models: I grew up in Wisteria, Calif. My mom has been a really important role model for me – very inspiring person, just seeing how hard she works. She dedicated her life to her kids and made sure that we had everything we needed. She's been a good mom, so she's someone I look up to. I also have a personal mentor in Patrick Pruitt. He's been in my life since I was 13 and he trained me and guided me through picking a good school and continued to guide me as I moved forward in life. He's like a father figure to me.
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On living in Missoula: I've had a really positive experience here at Montana and Missoula. Coming here has just really opened my eyes to the world. I've seen how people are here in Missoula… the kindness and the easy-going lifestyle. I've kind of embraced it, and that has really changed me as a person. I've also embraced the community a lot, and it's been important to get out. I hope I've been a positive role model, as well, because that's what I've strived to do, to be a positive influence as well.
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On his future: Personally, I'd like to continue to be playing basketball professionally, maybe overseas. I'd like to see if I can get a chance and enjoy it, or if not, do something else.
Jamar Akoh / Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
On transferring to Montana from Cal State Fullerton: I had never heard much about Montana, but Chris Cobb reached out to me and told me that I should take a visit because I might be surprised. I did, and loved it here.
Â
On his basketball skills: I've always had the ability to defend, and I usually put myself in a good spot. I'm not the most gifted athlete, and I don't have blinding speed, but I've taught myself to put myself in a good position… that and the fact that I have quick hands, so it's the combination of the two. A lot of times, I don't even get the steals, I deflect it and one of my teammates gets the steal because of the rhythm of the game being disrupted. I love to disrupt things, since I was blessed with amazing and quick hands. I also have the skill to move my feet laterally pretty well, so that comes in with being able disrupt the flow of the game. I also developed the knack in rebounding to see the trajectory of shots and where the ball is going to come off the rim and where to anticipate positioning for rebounding.
Â
On his favorite Griz Hoops memory: Interestingly, one game that really pops out to me was last season against North Dakota here. We scored 100 points and it was just a fun game. I don't think I played that great, but the other guys, the young guys – Timmy (Falls) and some of the other young guys – really had a good game, and it was a game that was really fun to watch. Obviously, also, the games in last year's Big Sky tournament, things went our way. It was so fun to just be part of that, especially the Northern Colorado game that almost looked like it was going to be over and somehow we pulled it out. That's something that I'll remember forever. Of course the NCAAs were an amazing experience. It's something that, as a kid, you just want to experience. It was great just to get to go – flying there, getting there, seeing the fans, feeling the atmosphere. It was a treat, especially since we played a really good Michigan team and played them well. We ended up really proud about how we played.
Â
On his teammates: I think I've built a really good relationship with these guys. We're a tight-knit group. They're the kind of relationships that I can visualize continuing for a long time.
Â
On his time as a student: I've really had a great experience here at Montana as a student. I've been really blessed to be able to walk out of here with two degrees, one in marketing and the other in management. I've got plans for my own business. If I could play somewhere overseas and make some money, then maybe start a business or put some investment into a business; I've thought about both. This past summer I got some experience working two internships – one with Draught Works brewery, where I did a marketing position, then I did a management internship over with Sheehan Majestic. I got some experience under my belt and got to see the real world of business management.
Â
On his favorite class: Last semester I took a digital marketing class taught by adjunct professor June Moore. I really enjoyed her class. It really changed my perspective on business. A couple of years ago, I took a class by a really good professor, Jason Trish. It was an Excel class, and he really taught me a lot. Those two classes stood out for me.
Â
On his role models: I grew up in Wisteria, Calif. My mom has been a really important role model for me – very inspiring person, just seeing how hard she works. She dedicated her life to her kids and made sure that we had everything we needed. She's been a good mom, so she's someone I look up to. I also have a personal mentor in Patrick Pruitt. He's been in my life since I was 13 and he trained me and guided me through picking a good school and continued to guide me as I moved forward in life. He's like a father figure to me.
Â
On living in Missoula: I've had a really positive experience here at Montana and Missoula. Coming here has just really opened my eyes to the world. I've seen how people are here in Missoula… the kindness and the easy-going lifestyle. I've kind of embraced it, and that has really changed me as a person. I've also embraced the community a lot, and it's been important to get out. I hope I've been a positive role model, as well, because that's what I've strived to do, to be a positive influence as well.
Â
On his future: Personally, I'd like to continue to be playing basketball professionally, maybe overseas. I'd like to see if I can get a chance and enjoy it, or if not, do something else.
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