Shot Blocker Supreme
By Jeff Johnson

PictureTheo Akwuba during the Alabama North-South All Star Game (Photo Cred/Julie Bennett of AL.com)
​6’9 Brewbaker Tech Senior Center Theo Akwuba isn’t a household name in recruiting circles. At the beginning of the season you didn’t find him on any of the state’s pre-season top senior lists. Hell if you said his name last week around the local street basketball community in his hometown of Montgomery, Alabama, chances are you’d have gotten a  blank stare and a “Who?” would have accompanied it. But after his performance in the Larry Chapman Invitational, Akwuba’s name is buzzing. During this tournament, Akwuba had a coming out party and earned his first Division 1 offer from North Alabama. Now that the secret is out, “The Nigerian Nightmare” as we’ve started calling him, is about to be a spring priority for programs looking for a shot blocking big man with high upside and great academics.
​Brew Tech Senior Center Theo Akwuba
Relatively new to the game of basketball, you would think he wouldn’t have the timing or instinct to impact the game the way he does. But he has a nice feel, stays on his feet and lets the opposition make their move before he swats it to the rafters. Unlike most shot blockers that jump for everything, his 7’5 wingspan allows him to have the patience to bait the other team into thinking they can get shots off. The way he’s dominated games this season has been jaw dropping. I went to the tournament the first day to check out some more known prospects. But I went back the next two days to see if Theo would have a drop off in production. What I saw was three dominating triple-double performances against some of the state's best teams and it solidified his status to us as one of the states elite prospects and had our phones at BAMAMIXTAPE buzzing asking were his stats misprints and why haven’t they heard of him before. Theo started off the tournament with a 13 point, 15 rebound and 17 block game against 6A Power Sidney Lanier in front of a University of North Alabama assistant who quickly handed down a scholarship offer. In the Double OT loss, he showed great timing on blocks, post moves and emotion that he’s never showed before. The next night against a ranked 7A Robert E. Lee squad, he was equally impressive with 12 points, 14 rebounds and 11 blocks. And to top off his all-tournament team performance against 5A Greenville high school he had 14 points, 15 rebounds and 21 blocks in front of an assistant coach from Troy University. Akwuba showed flashes in the past that made you say “he has a chance” or that kid just needs some more time. But he put in the work this summer and fall and it has shown in a major way. Be on the lookout for Brew Tech in March.  With Theo in the middle along with high scoring guards Desmond Williams and Evan Carter they are going to make some noise. And look for Theo to have his pick of schools come April.
GPA: 3.4   ACT: 24

Offer: North Alabama

Interest: Alabama State, Morehead State, Samford, St. Bonaventure, Texas A&M, Troy & Western Kentucky
Theo Akwuba has a chance to end his high school career as the state of Alabama’s most decorated shot blocker.