James Akinjo

James Akinjo's Biography

James Akinjo is an acclaimed American basketball player who has demonstrated his consummate skills and passion for the sport with various collegiate and professional teams. Born on November 27, 2000, Akinjo presently plays as a professional basketball player for the Wisconsin Herd of the NBA G League, building on his extensive experience and impressive career record.

Hailing from the challenging Las Deltas Housing projects in North Richmond, California, Akinjo’s formative years were marked by adversity. After losing his mother, Monique Divers, to leukemia in his early years, he was raised primarily by his maternal grandmother, Roberta Stevenson. When he was just 13, Akinjo experienced further tragedy when his brother died. Throughout his youth, he witnessed many of his neighborhood friends fall victim to the crime epidemic that plagued his community. Akinjo’s father, who was only 16 years older than Akinjo himself, and his uncle were both incarcerated during his childhood, rendering his upbringing even more challenging.

Despite such difficulties, the young Akinjo remained focused on his ambition to exercise his passion for basketball professionally. Inspired by renowned basketball player Chris Paul, Akinjo possessed professional aspirations even as a child. At the tender age of 11, he was highlighted as a “basketball prodigy” in the East Bay Times, setting the tone for the illustrious career that lay ahead.

As he began to come into his own, Akinjo attended and played basketball for Salesian College Preparatory in Richmond, California, under Coach Bill Mellis. Initially standing at a height of 5’8″ as a freshman, Akinjo underwent a significant growth spurt and continued to deliver incredible performances on the basketball court during high school. One of his notable high school triumphs occurred at the 2017 MLK Classic when he scored 29 points against St. John Bosco-Bellflower. Akinjo also led his team to the CIF North Coast Section Division III title with an impressive team record of 30-2.

Following his high school career, Akinjo committed to the University of Connecticut, attracted by an offer from the school’s basketball program. However, after the institution terminated its head coach Kevin Ollie, he switched his commitment to Georgetown. As a freshman at Georgetown, he secured his first Big East Conference Freshman of the Week honors after averaging 14.3 points and 4.7 assists per game in three games. Furthermore, Akinjo secured a spot in the Big East All-Freshman Team and was named Big East Freshman of the Year.

In his sophomore year, Akinjo left Georgetown after the announcement of his entrance into the transfer portal, along with several other Georgetown players. He averaged 13.4 points, 4.4 assists, and three rebounds per game across seven appearances that season before committing to the University of Arizona on January 1, 2020.

In Arizona, Akinjo experienced success with the Wildcats, averaging 15.6 points and 5.4 assists per game and earning First Team All-Pac-12 honors. He considered NBA options soon after but eventually decided to transfer to Baylor, where he set a personal best of 27 points in a December 2021 game against Northwestern State.

Unfortunately, Akinjo did not get drafted during the 2022 NBA draft. He was signed briefly by the Atlanta Hawks for the 2022 NBA Summer League, then by the New York Knicks, but did not stick with either team. Subsequently, he joined the Westchester Knicks training camp roster, after which his rights were traded to the Stockton Kings. Akinjo also signed with the Sacramento Kings, only to be waived on the same day.

The next significant shift in Akinjo’s basketball career transpired on February 6, 2024, when he was traded to the Wisconsin Herd. Despite a brief signing with the Milwaukee Bucks that didn’t pan out, he later returned to the Wisconsin Herd, where he continues to demonstrate his skills and passion in the world of basketball.

James Akinjo’s journey through the ranks of basketball, unyielding perseverance, and outstanding track record clearly underscores his profound dedication to the sport. Despite enduring considerable adversity from childhood into his professional career, Akinjo continues to inspire as an American professional basketball player who regularly breaks barriers.