POWER FORWARD/STRETCH 4

2021-22 players not returning: Justin Bean (NBA Exhibit 10 deal Memphis Grizzlies), Cade Potter (Left the Team), Norbert Thelissen (Transfer Portal), Matt Wickizer (Left the team)

Returning players: None

New faces in 2022-23:

Taylor Funk 6’9″ 220 (247 3*) – St. Joseph’s University – (1 year to play 1)
2021-22 (Sr.) Stats: PPG: 13.2      FG%: 40.6      3PT%: 37.3      FT%: 87.0      REB: 6.6       AST: 1.8      STL: 0.9
2020-21 (RsJr.) Stats: PPG: 17.4  FG%: 48.2      3PT%: 35.4      FT%: 83.8      REB: 5.7       AST: 1.5      STL: 0.8
2019-20 (Jr.) Stats: PPG: 9.4         FG%: 40.0      3PT%: 25.0      FT%: 33.3      REB: 5.1       AST: 2.3      STL: 0.3
2018-19 (So.) Stats: PPG: 8.4       FG%: 37.5      3PT%: 30.5       FT%: 73.1      REB: 5.5       AST: 1.3     STL: 0.6
2017-18 (Fr.) Stats: PPG: 11.9       FG%: 42.6      3PT%: 39.4       FT%: 83.7      REB: 4.8      AST: 1.4      STL: 0.8
Offers from: Alabama, Arizona State, Arkansas, Butler, DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Miami (FL), Michigan, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Xavier
Original Offers from: Boston University, La Salle, Monmouth, Rider
https://247sports.com/player/taylor-funk-94581/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdjNKR0up7w

Isaac Johnson 7’0″ 235 (247 4*) – University of Oregon – (4 years to play 3)
2021-22 (Fr.) Stats: PPG: 2.4      FG%: 60.9      3PT%: 0.0      FT%: 55.6      REB: 1.1      AST: 0.2      STL: 0.0
Offers from: byu, utah, Weber St
Original Offers from: byu, Gonzaga, Kansas St, Oregon, Southern Utah, Stanford, USC, utah, Wake Forest
https://247sports.com/player/isaac-johnson-45572868/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDPLH0QqZNQ

2022-23 OUTLOOK

In regards to the NCAA-mandated eligibility freeze from the 2020 season, what I’ve learned is that the player’s eligibility will continue to accrue. Once the player reaches his 4th or 5th season, depending on if the player uses a redshirt season, the player will have the option to return to school for a 5th or 6th season and continue playing one more season. The player will then move from being listed as a senior (Sr.) to a graduate senior (Gr-Sr.)

I see highly sought-after graduate transfer, Taylor Funk, earning the starting nod at this spot. Funk joins the Aggies this season after beginning his collegiate career at St. Joseph’s University (PA). He has one season of eligibility remaining. As a senior during the 2021-22 season, he started in all 28 games. He averaged 13.2 points per game while shooting 40.6 percent from the floor, 37.3 percent from behind the 3-point line, and 87.0 percent at the free-throw line. He averaged 6.6 boards per contest and 1.8 assists. He also blocked 9 shots and recorded 24 steals during the year. As a redshirt junior during the 2020-21 season, he started in all 20 games of the covid shortened season. He averaged 17.4 points per game while shooting 48.2 percent from the floor, 35.4 percent from behind the 3-point line, and 83.8 percent at the free-throw line. He averaged 5.7 boards per contest and 1.5 assists. He also blocked 15 shots and recorded 15 steals during the year. As a junior during the 2020-21 season, he started in the first 7 games of the season before suffering a season-ending injury. He averaged 9.4 points per game while shooting 40.0 percent from the floor, 25.0 percent from behind the 3-point line, and 33.3 percent at the free-throw line. He averaged 5.1 boards per contest and 2.3 assists. He also blocked 7 shots and recorded 2 steals during the year. As a sophomore during the 2018-19 season, he played in 33 games with 24 starts. He averaged 8.4 points per game while shooting 37.5 percent from the floor, 30.5 percent from behind the 3-point line, and 73.1 percent at the free-throw line. He averaged 5.5 boards per contest and 1.3 assists. He also blocked 15 shots and recorded 20 steals during the year. As a true freshman during the 2017-18 season, he played in 32 games with 21 starts. He averaged 11.9 points per game while shooting 42.6 percent from the floor, 39.4 percent from behind the 3-point line, and 83.7 percent at the free-throw line. He averaged 4.8 boards per contest and 1.4 assists. He also blocked 15 shots and recorded 25 steals during the year. Funk is a skilled four-man who has a high basketball I.Q. and causes definite mismatch problems. While his most noticeable asset is his ability to stretch opposing defenses to the arc with a tight smooth shooting touch, he’s also capable of putting it on the floor, backing smaller defenders to the block, and even playing alongside more traditional bigs and feeding the post from the perimeter. He is a solid team defender. He has a versatile offensive game and the intelligence to make good things happen when he is on the floor. Funk is going to be a great fit for what the Aggies like to do on both ends of the floor.

I believe versatile graduate senior Dan Akin will see plenty of minutes at both the power forward and center spots. Akin joins the Aggies this season after spending last season at California-Baptist University. He has one season of eligibility remaining. Akin spent the first four seasons of his collegiate career at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County. As a senior during the 2021-22 season at Cal-Baptist, he played in 34 games with 33 starts. He averaged 10.5 points per game while shooting 53.3 percent from the floor, and 69.3 percent at the free-throw line, he missed the only three-point shot he took that season. He averaged 8.1 boards per contest, 1.5 assists, and 1.0 blocks. He also recorded 25 steals during the year. As a junior during the 2020-21 covid-shortened season at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County, he played in 16 games with 5 starts. He averaged 7.9 points per game while shooting 57.9 percent from the floor, and 52.1 percent at the free-throw line. He averaged 6.4 boards per contest. He also recorded 12 blocks, 11 assists, and 6 steals during the year. As a redshirt sophomore during the 2019-20 season, he played in 32 games with 30 starts. He averaged 5.6 points per game while shooting 55.8 percent from the floor, and 38.6 percent at the free-throw line. He averaged 5.0 boards per contest. He also recorded 16 blocks, 13 assists, and 14 steals during the year. As a sophomore during the 2018-19 season, he played in 7 games with 6 starts. He averaged 7.4 points per game while shooting 54.1 percent from the floor, and 42.9 percent at the free-throw line. He averaged 8.0 boards per contest. He also recorded 6 assists, and 5 steals during the year. As a true freshman during the 2017-18 season, he played in 36 games with 20 starts. He averaged 3.5 points per game while shooting 64.9 percent from the floor, and 40.5 percent at the free-throw line. He averaged 3.4 boards per contest. He also recorded 8 blocks, 12 assists, and 12 steals during the year. Akin is an aggressive rebounder that prides himself in his blue-collar approach to basketball. He is a physically strong player that will surprise people with his athleticism and agility. His strength and athleticism allow him to be a very willing defender and really agitate opposing players. He is a threat to record a double-double on any given night. He is a true back-to-the-basket offensive player and tries to do much of his damage from 10 feet and in. However, he can handle the ball quite well for a player of his size and has the ability to put the ball on the floor in order to create scoring opportunities for himself. Akin is going to be the defensive force near the basket that the Aggies sorely missed last season.

I believe that sophomore transfer Isaac Johnson MAY acutall see minutes at this position. Johnson joins the Aggies after beginning his career at the University of Oregon. He will have 4 years to complete his final 3 years of eligibility. As a true freshman at Oregon in 2021-22, he appeared in 14 games. He averaged 2.4 points per game while shooting 60.9 percent from the floor, he did not make any shots from behind the 3-point line and he shot 55.6 percent at the free-throw line. He averaged 1.1 boards per contest and also contributed 3 assists during the year. Coming out of American Fork High School, Johnson was ranked No. 41 in the country by 247Sports. He was the number 1 recruit in the State of Utah and was the number 10 Center in the nation. Johnson is oozing with upside and really not even yet scratching the surface of what he could be down the road. He has good size, length, and a soft touch that already extends beyond the three-point line. He has the quick release to get his shot off under pressure. He is an excellent perimeter shooter for his size, runs the floor well, and has shown the ability to be a decent rim protector as well. The way the Aggies play position-less basketball, he seems like an ideal fit for the modern game. His ability to stretch the floor at the center position will be welcomed right away. With his size and shooting ability, there will definitely be a big spot in the rotation for him.

PROJECTED 2022-23 PRESEASON DEPTH CHART

POWER FORWARD/STRETCH 4
23 Taylor Funk (6-9, 220, Gr-Sr., TR, 3*)
30 Dan Akin (6-9, 225, Gr-Sr., TR, NR) OR
20 Isaac Johnson (7-0, 235, So, TR, 4*)

Coming Up On Friday: Center