Aside from being tall, Dokun Akingbade and Robert Diggs couldn’t be more different. But in their first year as starters, the two are growing into a formidable duo for George Washington in the low post.
“It’s like night and day,” said Colonials senior guard Carl Elliott. “Diggs will get a dunk and be yelling and screaming. Then Dokun will get a dunk, and he’ll just look at you like, ‘I just dunked the ball. So what.’”
Neither played substantial minutes before this season, but both have started every game so far for the Colonials (12-4, 3-1 Atlantic 10). Diggs (Gwynn Park High), a sophomore, averages 11.1 points and a team-leading 2.4 blocks per game.
At 6-foot-8 and 187 pounds, he could stand to put on a bit more muscle, but his size doesn’t stop him from throwing down vicious dunks often followed by animated expressions.
“Off the court, [Diggs is] the clown on the team, and he brings the attitude on the court too. We need that from him,” said Akingbade (Bladensburg High), a 6-9, 220-pound senior. After redshirting last season, he’s scoring 7.5 points and is second on the team with just over one block a game.
The two are tied with a team-leading 5.8 rebounds per game.
“They’re not the strongest of the guys, but they’re long, quick and athletic,” said Elliott. “That allows them to do things that some guys can’t do.”
Charlotte (8-8, 2-2 Atlantic 10) at George Washington (12-4, 3-1)
» When: Saturday, 3 p.m.
» Where: Charles E. Smith Center
» TV: CSTV
