We are profiling each member of the 2011-12 Creighton women’s basketball team. Join us weekdays from now until the women’s exhibition opener against Rockhurst for an introduction to this year’s Bluejays, from freshmen to seniors.
See all of our 2011-12 Creighton women’s basketball profiles
Alexis Akin-Otiko will likely make an early impact for the Bluejays
Here’s an easy way to get some attention: shatter your high school’s career scoring total by more than 400 points. That is exactly what Alexis Akin-Otiko did throughout her career at Bellevue West High School.
If the program’s familiar to Creighton fans, it is because the school has been a bit of a talent pipeline for the Bluejays. Kristi and Kelsey Woodard went from the Thunderbirds to CU, with one Woodard on the court for the Jays each of the past eight seasons. Akin-Otiko becomes the next Thunderbird to don the White and Blue, and she’s ready.
“I’m excited to be here,” said Akin-Otiko. “I will do whatever they need from me, playing the role that they need.”
She’s not just a scorer (she did record more than 1,700 points in her high school career. Akin-Otiko holds the school records in rebounds and blocked shots. She was the Gatorade Nebraska Player of the Year after scoring almost 17 points and grabbing 8 rebounds a game her senior year. With all that notoriety, she still decided to stay at the school just miles away from her family home.
“I love the coaching staff here and definitely like being so close to home to my family. It was a big thing, just the hometown experience,” she said.
Akin-Otiko will likely get a chance to contribute right away, with her multitude of skills for the frontcourt and her ability to also shoot from the outside. But there is always a transition from the high school game to college; she’s recognized that right away.
“Pace and communication is big. Everything is at a faster pace and it is important to communicate. It is at a higher level,” Akin-Otiko said.
The Bluejays are relatively inexperienced this season, so it has been a little easier for Alexis to integrate with the team.
“I think it is kind of cool that we are all so close. The fact that there are six sophomores makes it kind of nice for the transition. It is important for us to have good communication since we are so young,” she said.
One unexpected setback is the early season injury to sophomore guard Carli Tritz. Akin-Otiko says it has changed the way they do things, but it has also helped Alexis be aware of the importance of communication.
“It has helped us get stronger everywhere else and to work hard so when she comes back it will be an easier transition,” she said. “But we definitely miss her. With her being out, it builds leadership off the court as well.”
At Bellevue West, Akin-Otiko helped lead her team to state titles as a sophomore and junior and a state runner-up as a senior. The youth of this team doesn’t take away from expectations that Akin-Otiko has while she is at Creighton, even this season, to get to the postseason.
“That is definitely is one of our major goals. It might be harder because we are a little young, but it is definitely a goal.”
We will see in March if the youth grows up quickly, but look for Alexis Akin-Otiko to be leading the charge.