LUNCHTIME LAYUP
Scott scores 18 points in National Basketball League of Canada win over Charlottetown’s Island Storm
K-W Titans’ Akeem Scott makes a layup against PEI’s Island Storm in a NBL game at The Aud. For the full story,
KITCHENER — First impressions only come about once and the newest member of the Kitchener-Waterloo Titans certainly made the most of his.
Harlem native Akeem Scott, with just one practice under his belt, recorded a basket, steal and assist in the first two minutes of Tuesday’s 116-104 victory over the Island Storm. The energetic, well-travelled guard finished the game with 18 points and eight assists, in 34 minutes of floor time, and the injuryravaged Titans (two wins, six losses) snapped a five-game losing streak in front of an announced school-day crowd of 3,766 at Kitchener Memorial Auditorium.
“Every time I step on the court, it’s another opportunity to be great, to play hard, to have fun,” said the 36-year-old Scott. “I know a lot of people in the stadium don’t know me so I want them to go home and say there’s another Akeem here and he’s fun to watch as well.”
The Titans’ other Akeem is fan-favourite Akeem Ellis, who had 19 points and 10 rebounds in Tuesday’s win and played a significant role in bringing his namesake to Kitchener. The two Akeems are close friends — they played together five years ago with the Brampton’s A’s — and have remained in touch as they’ve travelled the globe playing basketball.
Scott was considering an offer to play in Spain, but opted to join the Titans after a conversation with Ellis about the team, its potential to win a National Basketball League of Canada championship, and life in Waterloo Region.
Titans head coach Cavell Johnson is another former teammate of Scott and wasn’t the least bit surprised of how his newest signing was able to make an immediate impact. The signing became a necessity after the Titans lost veteran guard Tramar Sutherland for the season with an Achilles injury last week. The Titans previously lost Myles Charvis with a similar injury and veteran guard Ed Horton remains on the shelf with a broken hand.
“He (Scott) brought exactly what we needed from him. I talked to him before the game and I said ‘be you’ and he came out from jump ball and played his brand of basketball, and that’s what we needed,” said Johnson. “We needed that edge, we needed that dawg, and he showed what he’s capable of doing.”
Scott last competed in Canada with the London Lightning during the 2015-2016 season before moving on to jobs in Chile and Mexico for the past four years.
He played NCAA Division 1 basketball at High Point University in North Carolina and has played professionally for 13 years in Europe and Latin America. Along the way, he earned the nickname ‘Wolf’ for his style of play.
“In Latin America, that’s what they’ve been calling me. It’s my mentality, how I attack the basket,” he said. “I feel like it’s my spirit animal and I buy into it and I enjoy it.”
Scott also enjoys motivational speaking, something he started doing several years back and continues to this day. He talks with students and community groups and posts weekly messages of encouragement on his social media accounts.
Jared Nickens had a teamhigh 23 points for the Titans, who outscored the visitors from Prince Edward Island by 14 points in the second quarter and led 57-43 at halftime. The Titans extended the lead to 35 points in the final minute of the third quarter, but were outscored 36-18 in the final period.
Alex Campbell had 23 points for the Storm (5-3) and Nathaniel Wright added 20. The game was a first of the Storm’s four-game Ontario swing that continues with stops in London, Windsor and Sudbury.
The Titans return to action Thursday against Windsor, a 7 p.m. tip at the Aud.