Sports
Former Petaluma Prep Sensation has New NBA Team
Casa Grande Alum Josh Akognon is claimed off waivers by the Memphis Grizzlies.
Petaluma native Josh Akognon sent the his hometown abuzz earlier this year when he became the first Sonoma County basketball player to ever play in the NBA.
But after a brief stint with the Dallas Mavericks, the former Casa Grande High sensation has a new team.
Akognon was claimed on waivers by the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday, ESPN.com reports.
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The Mavericks tried to sneak the 5-foot-11 perimeter shooting specialist through waivers amid salary-cap maneuvering after signing former Golden State Warriors guard Monta Ellis.
Akognon, 27, played in just three games for Dallas last season but raised some eyebrows after leading the Las Vegas Summer League in scoring, averaging 17.5 points.
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He signed with the Mavericks after playing in China.
Akognon's improbable journey began when he went from a basketball nobody his junior year at Casa to an elite prospect as a senior, when he was the state's fifth leading scorer, averaging more than 30 points.
He started his collegiate career at Washington State, but after two years transferred to Cal State Fullerton, where a stellar career sent him on his way to pro ball.
Akognon led the Titans to their first NCAA appearance in 30 years as a junior and was named the Big West Conference Player of the Year his senior year.
He played in Esotnia from 2009 to 2010.
He signed with the Dongguan Leopards in the Chinese Basketball Association in 2010 and led the league in scoring his first season, averaging 29 points.
Footage of Akognon's outstanding perimeter shooting is featured in this Chinese news broadcast shown on YouTube.
Akognon signed a 10-day contract with Dallas on April 3 and got an extension for the rest of the season on April 13.
Do you remember seeing Josh Akognon play at Casa Grande High? Share your memories or thoughts about his amazing career in our comments section.