General

Four-year starter at point guard who led the Jackets in scoring his last two years . . . Tech?s third left-handed point guard of the past decade, following Kenny Anderson and Travis Best . . . Surpassed 1,600 points against Wake Forest on Feb. 27 . . . Finished his career with 1,658 points, jumping to 11th place in Tech history after beginning the year in 28th . . . Moved into fourth place on the all-time Tech list for assists with 560 (third place is held by Craig ?Noodles? Neal with 659) . . . Second in career three-point field goals at Tech with 301, behind Dennis Scott (351), and ranks seventh in ACC history . . . Sixth in career steals with 173, 10th in career starts (117), 10th in minutes played (3,969) . . . His 4.6-assist average ranks 7th in Tech history.

Only Dennis Scott (351-for-831) ranks ahead of Akins on Tech?s career lists for three-point field goals made and attempted . . . Akins is 301-for-812 in his career (37.1 percent).

2001-02

Made the all-ACC second team, and played brilliantly down the stretch, averaging 22 points and 6.2 assists during Tech?s final six games . . . Scored 22 with seven assists in a first-round ACC Tournament loss to Wake Forest, his final game at Tech . . . Tech?s only senior, ranked eighth in the ACC in scoring (17.0), fifth in assists (5.7), second in three-point percentage (.403) and first in three-point field goals per game (3.16).

Averaged 22 points and 6.2 assists in the last five regular-season games, all Tech wins, while hitting 18 of 40 three-point field goals (45 percent), shooting 48.4 percent (30-of-62) overall from the floor and 89.7 percent (32-of-35) from the free throw line . . . After Feb. 1, Akins averaged 19.7 points per game . . . Similarly, Akins averaged 18.1 points per game from Feb. 1 forward in 2000-01 as the Jackets made their push toward the NCAA Tournament.

Tech?s most consistent offensive player all season, scoring in double digits in 27 of 30 games and scoring 20 or more 11 times . . . Shot 83.3 percent from the free throw line, which ranks fourth in the ACC . . . Made 25 straight attempts dating back from Feb. 20 against NC State (8-for-9) to Tech[apos]s ACC Tournament loss to Wake Forest . . . During the streak, he was 9-for-9 vs. Virginia, 5-for-5 vs. Wake Forest and 6-for-6 vs. Florida State . . . Went 10-for-10 vs. North Carolina on Feb. 2.

The only ACC player to rank in the top 10 in scoring and top 5 in assists . . . In ACC games, Akins averaged 17.8 points and 5.9 assists per game . . . Averaged career-bests in most offensive categories, including scoring, assists and shooting . . . His 5.7 assists per game were a full assist better than his career-best rate of 4.5 as a freshman . . . Had three double-digit assist games this year (North Carolina, Syracuse, Cornell) after never posting one his first three seasons . . . Did not commit a turnover against Florida State (Jan. 30) and Maryland (Feb. 13) . . . His assist/turnover ratio in the last 10 games was 2.11-1.

Shot 243 three-point attempts this season, an average of 7.8 per game which was well above his career average of 6.2 attempts per game . . . With increase in frequency came an improvement in accuracy (40.3 percent of his attempts, compared with 35.7 percent for his first three years combined).

Poured in 23 points, handed out nine assists and grabbed six rebounds to lead the Jackets to an 82-80 win at 15th-ranked Virginia . . . With Tech trailing by three, he sank two free throws with 19 seconds left, and on the Jackets? final possession he dished to Marvin Lewis for the game-winning basket at the buzzer . . . Scored 17 of his 19 points in the second half to lead Tech to a 65-59 victory over NC State . . . Also made several key defensive plays late in the game, including a steal with 41 seconds left and Tech holding a two-point lead.

Top scoring games included season high of 28 points Mar. 2 at Florida State and Feb. 2 against North Carolina . . . Also scored 20 or more against Wisconsin, North Carolina (Dec. 1), Clemson, Maryland and Wake Forest . . . Earned ACC Player of the Week honors Feb. 25 after leading Tech to wins over NC State and Virginia.

Participated in ESPN[apos]s Three-Point Challenge during Final Four week at Georgia State, and came away with top honors over Arkansas[apos] Jannero Pargo . . . Also was named MVP of the NABC Roundball Challenge after scoring 14 points with seven assists in the College All-Stars[apos] 86-76 victory over the Harlem Globetrotters.

2000-01

Honorable mention all-ACC . . . Tech?s leading scorer, averaging 14.5 points per game, which ranked 9th in the ACC . . . Even better in conference games with a 15.4 scoring average, which ranked 6th in the league . . . Averaged 4.3 assists per game (6th in the ACC) . . . Excellent long-range shooter, hitting 41.9 percent from the beyond the arc (3rd in the ACC) and averaging 2.6 treys per game (4th in the ACC) . . . Second on the team with 35 steals.

Stepped up his play considerably over the latter part of the season . . . From Feb. 1 on, he averaged 18.2 points per game and shot 48.9 percent (65-133) from the field and 46.6 percent (34-73) from three-point range . . . Led Tech in scoring in 12 games on the season, more than any other player, including eight of the last 11 games of the regular season.

Scored a season-high 28 points to lead Tech to a 72-67 victory at UCLA in the Wooden Classic . . . Hit eight of 15 shots from the field, including four three-pointers, and contributed five assists and four rebounds . . . Kept Tech in the game early by scoring 16 of the Jackets? 22 first-half points.

Named ACC Player of the Week after sensational performances in Tech?s back-to-back wins over No. 13 Maryland and No. 6 Virginia, averaging 23.5 points in the two victories . . . Tied his season-high with 28 points against the Terrapins as he connected on eight of 11 shots from the field and 9-of-12 from the line . . . Hit three three-pointers, including an NBA-length blast with the shot clock running down that gave Tech a five-point lead with 1:09 to play . . . Also completed a conventional three-point play that put the Jackets ahead to stay with 5:43 left . . . Followed with 19 points in Tech?s win over Virginia as he went 7-for-10 from the floor and 4-for-6 from the line while holding Cavalier point guard Donald Hand to zero field goals and just two points.

Averaged 16.5 points and 5.0 assists in two ACC Tournament games . . . Made nine of 21 (.429) three-point attempts in the two games . . . Scored 16 points and added six assists in the quarterfinal win over Virginia . . . Netted 17 points on 5-for-11 shooting (including 5-for-10 on three-point attempts) in the semifinals against North Carolina . . . Followed with 16 points and six assists in Tech?s NCAA game against St. Joseph?s.

Managed a four-point play, making a three-pointer while getting fouled and hitting the free throw, in Tech?s victories over UCLA and Kentucky . . . Against Kentucky, his four-point play erased a 63-60 deficit in the second half and ignited a 23-7 Tech run . . . Also pulled off the trick late in the first half against UCLA, erasing a 20-16 deficit.

1999-2000

Started 26 of 30 games at point guard . . . Tech?s second-leading scorer with 11.5 points per game . . . Sixth in the ACC in assists with 3.6 per game . . . Tied for third in the league with 2.3 three-pointers per game and ranked sixth in percentage (.368) . . . Tech?s top free throw shooter at 77.5 percent . . . Also led the team with 35 steals . . . Turned in the most prolific game of his career with a 33-point performance in Tech?s 64-54 loss at Florida State, the highest scoring output by a Yellow Jacket in nearly two years (Dion Glover 33 vs. Seton Hall) . . . Scored 27 of his 33 points from three-point range as he went 9-for-14, equalling the Tech high in an ACC game, matching Drew Barry (9 vs. North Carolina, 2-10-96) and Dennis Scott (9 vs. North Carolina, 1-28-89) . . . Averaged 14.3 points over the final seven games of the season, hitting 26 of 56 three-pointers in that stretch . . . Scored in double figures in 18 games, including 19 against Michigan, 17 against Kansas, 18 against Clemson and 17 versus Maryland . . . Season-high eight assists against Mercer . . . One of 27 players invited by USA Basketball to try out for the 1999 Junior National Championships team.

1998-99

Started every game as a freshman and was one of four Yellow Jackets to average in double figures with 11.3 points per game . . . Sixth in the ACC in assists with 4.8 per game . . . He and Jason Floyd were the only two Tech players to start every game . . . Fourth in the ACC in minutes played, logging 35.5 per game . . . Eighth in the league with 1.8 three-point field goals per game.

Got off to a strong start and was named ACC Rookie of the Week two of the first four weeks of the season . . . Had 20 points and nine assists in his debut against Charleston Southern . . . Followed with 23 points, nine assists and seven rebounds versus The Citadel, when he nailed six treys . . . Named ACC Rookie of the Week (Nov. 22) following those two games . . . Earned the honor again (Dec. 14) after an outstanding performance in Tech?s overtime win over Georgia . . . Had 24 points, including 8-for-8 from the free throw line, seven assists and seven rebounds against the Bulldogs as he helped Tech rally from a 15 point deficit in the last 10 minutes of regulation . . . Hit the game-tying free throws with 34.6 seconds left in regulation and then scored six of Tech?s 12 points in overtime . . . Scored a career-high 28 points in overtime victory over Appalachian State, including the tying bucket with 16 seconds left in regulation and then the game-winning three-pointer with 21 seconds left in overtime.

Had 18 points?his high in an ACC game?nine assists and three steals while playing 49 minutes in Tech?s double-overtime win at Florida State . . . Played well in home win over Wake Forest with 14 points, seven assists and five rebounds . . . Scored 14 points and committed just one turnover in 38 minutes against Clemson . . . Added 14 points at Clemson . . . Hit four three-pointers, all in the second half, and scored 12 points against North Carolina in the ACC Tournament.

High School

The Georgia prep Player of the Year by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and USA Today after a spectacular senior season . . . Averaged 28.6 points per game as he led Berkmar High School to a 25-8 record and the AAAA state championship game . . . Also averaged 6.5 assists, five rebounds and five steals per game as a senior . . . Connected on 55 percent from the field, 42 percent from three-point range and 85 percent from the free throw line . . . Played for coach David Boyd at Berkmar . . . Finalist for the McDonald?s All-America team . . . Rated one of the top 75 players in the country by Prep Star?s Recruiter?s Handbook and ESPN Sportszone . . . Tabbed the 55th-best prospect in the nation by Clark Francis in Hoop Scoop . . . Completed his career as the all-time leading scorer in Gwinnett County history with 1,955 career points . . . Scored 53 points against Spartanburg and 47 against Parkview as a senior . . . Netted 44 of Berkmar?s 55 points against Brookwood in the region championship game, including 33 of team?s 35 points in the first half.

Represented the United States in the Albert Schweitzer international tournament in Mannheim, Germany . . . Selected to play in the Diaper Dandy All-Star Game in Auburn Hills, Mich. . . . Chose Tech over Michigan.

Personal

Full name is Anthony Jewell Akins . . . Born July 3, 1980 . . . Parents are Jewell and Myong Akins . . . Majoring in Management.

Career Statistics

Year G-GS MP-Avg FG-FGA Pct 3P-3PA Pct FT-FTA Pct. O-D Reb Avg As Avg TO Bl St TP Avg

1999 31-31 1100-35.5 108-344 .316 57-198 .288 76-114 .667 18-96 114 3.7 148 4.8 138 1 44 349 11.3

2000 30-26 929-31.0 111-301 .369 68-185 .368 55-71 .775 26-73 99 3.3 108 3.6 86 2 35 345 11.5

2001 30-29 876-29.2 140-318 .440 78-186 .419 78-103 .757 14-90 104 3.5 128 4.3 78 0 35 436 14.5

2002 31-31 1064-34.3 170- 406 .419 98- 243 .403 90- 108 .833 22- 96 118 3.8 176 5.7 102 0 59 528 17.0

Total 122-117 3969-32.5 529- 1369 .386 301- 812 .371 299- 396 .755 80- 355 435 3.6 560 4.6 404 3 173 1658 13.6

Career Highs

Points: 33, Florida State, 2-21-00
Field Goals: 11, Florida State (11-18), 2-21-00
Field Goals Attempted: 22, Wake Forest (7-22), 3-8-02
Field Goal Percentage: .800, Davidson (8-10), 12-19-01
3-Pt Field Goals: 9, Florida State (9-14), 2-21-00
3-Pt Field Goals Attempted: 14, Florida State (9-14), 2-21-00
3-Point Field Goal Pct.: 1.000, Davidson (5-5), 12-19-01
Free Throws: 10, North Carolina (10-10), 2-2-02
Free Throws Attempted: 12, Maryland (9-12), 2-7-01; Iona (8-12), 12-27-98
Free Throw Percentage: 1.000, North Carolina (10-10), 2-2-02
Rebounds: 8, Wake Forest, 1-13-01; Cornell, 1-2-02
Assists: 10, North Carolina, 12-2-01; Syracuse, 12-16-01; Cornell, 1-2-02
Blocked Shots: 1, Louisville, 2-14-99; Michigan, 12-1-99; Georgia, 12-8-99
Steals: 6, Kentucky, 12-19-98

									Connect
3	Tony Akins	Guard	5-11	185 lbs	-	Lilburn, Ga.		Berkmar HS	Tony Akins X Opens in a new window
14	Winston Neal	Guard	6-1	200 lbs	-	Greenville, Ga.		Flint River Academy	Winston Neal X Opens in a new window

Men's Basketball 1998-99 Roster

Men's Basketball Roster