The Bearcat coaching staff continue to get the guys they want while operating relatively quietly! Today they added former Georgia Tech guard Akai Fleming! Fleming is a 6’4″ former four-star wing G from Marietta, Georgia. In his freshman year he averaged 10 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 0.5 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game. He turned it over at a 16.9% rate, which is below average, but expected for a freshman. He committed 1.9 fouls per game in his 25.5 minutes, which shows he has some defensive tools already! He’ll have 3 years of eligibility remaining.
What to Expect on the Court:
Fleming’s freshman year was a bit of a rollercoaster; he did, however, see his minutes steadily increase throughout the year, averaging 24 minutes per game during the first 20, but 29 over the final 10 games. During the final 10, he put up 7 performances with 10+, and 6 with 15+ points. This trajectory is especially important for freshman at the high major level as you want to see them take on a bigger role throughout the final stretch of the year. He had several encouraging performances this year:
- 20 points vs. Lafayette in December
- 16/7 @ NC State in February
- 19/5/2 @ Cal in February
- 19/3/1 @ Stanford in February
- 15/5/1 @ Louisville in February
- 15/3/1 vs. Florida State in February
- 18/6/1 @ Clemson in the final game of the year.
Turnovers are a bit of a concern as he had 7 games this year with 3+, however, on a much more talented roster, he won’t be asked to do as much and should be able to play within the system at a better rate.
He was heavily relied on for Georgia Tech to take shots that weren’t the best looks for his efficiency profile, and again, I would anticipate this to be much better with a more talented roster in Clifton this year. What he did do very well was get to the free throw line, and convert once there. Again, his 22% usage rate is extremely high for a freshman, but shows he has a lot of upside with a bit of development and the right system. On defense, he is just barely above average analytically, however, he doesn’t stand out much in that regard. He doesn’t disrupt passing lanes, or rebound well (despite showing potential), however, he is above average for his size at blocking shots.
Player Comparison:
I’m going to do this a bit different compared to normal articles. I think there is a clear parallel between Fleming and Myles Colvin. Both are more of a wing/guard hybrid who get to the free throw line at a high rate, and convert at an elite level. With three years of eligibility, my initial thought is that the staff is bringing in Fleming to get a year under his belt behind Colvin before handing him a starting role next season.
Overall, this is a significant pickup for the Bearcats depth and long term trajectory. Expect Fleming to be around for several years and there’s a solid chance that the former 4* wing turns into a key player down the road.
