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One On One with Akeem Richmond

By: James Mulcahy

Hoops Report: Akeem, you just finished your junior season at Southern Lee HS (NC). How did your season go and what were your stats?
Akeem Richmond: “My junior season went really well. We didn’t win the state championship and as everyone knows that’s what you play for. We lost in the section finals and the finals. Our record was 27-3 and we were conference and conference tournament champs. As for my stats they were my highest across the board in my three year varsity career and I went over the 2000 point mark. I scored 800 points and averaged 27.1ppg, 6.1apg, 4.1spg, and shot 47% from the field, and 98.6 percent from the free throw line.”

You are a little more than a thousand points away from breaking the North Carolina state scoring record held by JamesOn Curry and it would take a huge senior campaign for you to break the record. Is that a personal goal?

"The makeup of my team will be different because Southern Lee lost five seniors and I scored 810 points while never playing an entire game-- I played maybe 20 minutes a game. With that being said, 1000 points is in reach, but I will need to play heavy minutes and we'll need to make a deep run in the state playoffs. The record is not the most important thing to me because I love to win and my scoring just happens to help my team win. I would trade all of the scoring records for a state championship."

What does your list of colleges look like at the moment?
“I like the University of Kentucky a lot and Tennessee.”

Do you have a favorite?
“Not really.”

What do you look for in a college coach?
“I like a coach with an up-tempo style and a coach that’s fair and that can improve my overall game.”

During the college basketball season what team do you pull for?
“I just like to watch good games and I know a lot of the players and have played with them at camps or AAU so I don’t pull against them.”

If you could play for any coach in the country who would it be?
“There’s so many good coaches in college. I guess it depends on what you want out of the coach, but I would have to say Roy Williams, Bruce Pearl or Billy Gillispie.”

What do you feel are the strengths of your game and what areas do you feel you still need to work hard on to improve?
“Scoring is my strength. I can score on anybody and my quickness is a plus. I’m a winner and that’s my biggest strength. I need to work on everything because what worked in high school won’t work in college.”

What player or players would you compare your game to?
“Ray Allen, D-Wade, and old school Iceman George Gervin.”

Who is your favorite NBA team and player?
“Kobe Bryant, T-Mac and the Lakers.”

Who is the best player you've ever played against?
“I have played against so many great players but I would say at 2006 ABCD Camp it was Kevin Love, O.J. Mayo, Brandon Jennings, Delvon Roe, Billy Walker, and LeMarcus Aldridge. You name them and they were there. At Five Star Camp I played against Kevin Durant and Michael Beasley so take your pick.”

What do you feel is the biggest accomplishment in your basketball
career so far?
“Being named to the all-state team as a freshman, sophomore and junior. That just doesn’t happen in our state and the fact that my high school team (Southern Lee) has won over 80% of our games and I like to think that the question remains to be answered.”

What are some goals that you would like to accomplish in the future?

"Winning a state championship, NCAA Championship, and getting my college degree."

Nike, Reebok, or Adidas?
“I wear them all.”

Do you have any other hobbies besides basketball?
“I work with kids at the local Boys and Girls Club and I teach them a little bit about the game.”

Do you have any nicknames and if so how did you get them?
“Everyone calls me Keem.”

If you had the choice between hitting the big shot to win the big game or making the spectacular pass to win the big game which one would be more satisfying to you?
“I have made game winning shots and as long as we win the feeling is the same.”

Who is the biggest role model in your life and why?

"My parents. My dad really believes in me and he is my biggest fan. We talk about what's going to happen in the game and most of the time he is right-- I mean he can tell me when a team's going to play box-and-one and he can tell me what the other team's coach is thinking. He's honest about my game and if I play poor he tells me and the most important thing is that very early he let me know that God has blessed me with talent, but I must work at the talent. My faith in God is everything to me."

Shout Outs?
“My Southern Lee teammates and coaches, Coach Chris Cherry, Collins, Draper, and Southern Lee faithful.”

This article is associated with the following player(s):
Richmond, Akeem

POSTED: 4-13-2008

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