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Henry Akin

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Henry Akin
Personal information
Born(1944-07-31)July 31, 1944
Detroit, Michigan,U.S.
DiedFebruary 16, 2020(2020-02-16)(aged 75)
Kirkland, Washington,U.S.
Listed height6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High schoolTroy(Troy, Michigan)
CollegeMorehead State(1963–1965)
NBA draft1966:2nd round, 11th overall pick
Selected by theNew York Knicks
Playing career1966–1968
PositionPower forward/center
Number10
Career history
1966–1967New York Knicks
1967–1968Seattle SuperSonics
1968Kentucky Colonels
Career highlights and awards
  • 2× First-team All-OVC(1964, 1965)
Career NBA and ABA statistics
Points308 (3.5 ppg)
Rebounds181 (2.1 rpg)
Assists40 (0.5 apg)
StatsEdit this at Wikidataat NBA.com
StatsEdit this at Wikidataat Basketball-Reference.com

Henry Troutt Akin Jr.(July 31, 1944 – February 16, 2020) was an American professionalbasketballplayer. He playedcollege basketballfor theMorehead State Eagleswhere he was a two-time first-team all-conference player in 1964 and 1965. Akin left the team before his senior season when he met his future wife and returned to his home state ofMichigan.TheNew York Knickshad scouted Akin during his college career and selected him as the 11th overall pick in the1966 NBA draft.He played one season with the Knicks and was then selected by theSeattle SuperSonicsin the1967 NBA expansion draft.Akin was a member of the SuperSonics during their inaugural season but was forced to retire due to knee and ankle injuries. He worked as a scout for the SuperSonics after his retirement.

Early life and college career

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Akin was born inDetroit, Michigan,as one of two children to Henry and Adda Akin.[1]He was raised inTroy, Michigan,and attendedTroy High School.[2]Akin grew from 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) as a sophomore to 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) as a senior.[2]He also played baseball at the school and graduated in 1962.[1]Akin committed to playcollege basketballfor theMorehead State Eaglesover scholarship offers from theOregon State BeaversandFerris State Bulldogs.[3]He was selected to the All-Ohio Valley Conferencefirst-team as a sophomore and junior with the Eagles.[2]Akin did not return for his senior season after he met his future wife and returned to Detroit where he married her and worked for an elevator installation company.[2][3]

Akin moved with his wife toHattiesburg, Mississippi,through a family connection to attendWilliam Carey Collegeto play basketball during the 1966–67 season.[2]He played on a travelingAmateur Athletic Unionteam that dominated opponents in Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana.[2]In May 1966, Akin received an offer to tryout for theNew York Knicksof theNational Basketball Association(NBA). The team's scout,Red Holzman,had watched Akin play for the Eagles and was interested in him.[2]

Professional career

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Akin was selected by the Knicks as the 11th overall pick of the1966 NBA draft.[3]He spent his rookie season with the Knicks and averaged 3.8 points per game.[3]Akin was chosen by theSeattle SuperSonicsin the1967 NBA expansion draftfor their inaugural season.[3]He played in a pickup game in Detroit with his high school friends where he suffered a knee injury that required surgery; Akin made it through the 1967–68 season by takingcortisoneshots.[3]He appeared in 36 games for the SuperSonics during which he averaged 3.1 points per game.[3]Akin was waived by the SuperSonics after the season because of a debilitating ankle injury.[2]He played two games with theKentucky Colonelsof theAmerican Basketball Association(ABA) and then decided to retire.[2][3]

Post-playing career

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Akin returned toSeattlewhen he was contacted by SuperSonics general managerDick Vertlieband head coachAl Bianchiwho offered him the position of scout for the team.[2]He estimated that he watched between 200 and 250 basketball games a year during his five years in the position.[2]Akin left the role in 1974 when his first daughter was born.[2]He worked as a salesman for a plus-size clothing company and then spent 22 years atBoeingbefore his retirement in 2010.[4]

Personal life

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Akin was married to his wife for 54 years and had three daughters.[4]He regularly attended girls basketball games atShorecrest High Schoolwhere one of his daughters was an assistant coach.[3]

Akin suffered from heart disease for most of his adult life and underwent open-heart surgery in 2011.[4]After three weeks of hospice care, Akin died on February 16, 2020, inKirkland, Washington.[4]His cause of death was listed as heart and kidney failure.[4]

Career statistics

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Legend
GP Games played GS Games started MPG Minutes per game
FG% Field goalpercentage 3P% 3-point field goalpercentage FT% Free throwpercentage
RPG Reboundsper game APG Assistsper game SPG Stealsper game
BPG Blocksper game PPG Points per game Bold Career high

NBA/ABA

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Source[5]

Regular season

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Year Team GP MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG PPG
1966–67 New York(NBA) 50 9.1 .361 .703 2.4 .5 3.8
1967–68 Seattle(NBA) 36 7.2 .336 .645 1.6 .4 3.1
1968–69 Kentucky(ABA) 2 12.5 .250 .000 .667 2.0 .5 2.0
Career 88 8.4 .350 .000 .676 2.1 .5 3.5

Playoffs

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Year Team GP MPG FG% FT% RPG APG PPG
1967 New York(NBA) 2 8.0 .143 .500 4.0 .0 1.5

References

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  1. ^ab"Obituary for Henry T. Akin, Jr".Northcutt & Son Home for Funerals, Inc.RetrievedNovember 30,2023.
  2. ^abcdefghijklDondero, Tony (July 24, 2008)."A Seattle SuperSonics' original: Henry Akin".Herald Net.RetrievedNovember 30,2023.
  3. ^abcdefghiRaley, Dan (February 3, 2004)."Whatever happened to Henry Akin, original Sonic?".Seattle Post-Intelligencer.RetrievedMarch 17,2020.
  4. ^abcdeAllen, Percy (March 16, 2020)."Henry Akin, one of original Seattle SuperSonics, dies at 75".Seattle Times.RetrievedMarch 16,2020.
  5. ^"Kenry Akin NBA & ABA stats".Basketball Reference.Sports Reference LLC.RetrievedJuly 6,2023.
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