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You just know that a guy has to be cool when his initials are “DAP”! DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell began his college career at Eastern Oklahoma State College, where he was a 2014 NJCAA D-1 All-America Honorable Mention who scored more than 20 PPG. After transferring to Illinois State, he was named 2015 MVC Newcomer of the Year and lead the team in RPG despite breaking his hand in the middle of the season. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with DeVaughn about shocking the Shockers and having to face both Maryland and Kentucky during a 7-day stretch next month.
You began your college career at Eastern Oklahoma State College, where you averaged 20.9 PPG and were a 2014 NJCAA D-1 Honorable Mention All-American: what is your secret for being a great scorer, and what made you choose Illinois State? I just felt that Illinois State would give me a great opportunity since I only had 2 years of eligibility left. I work out a lot on my own and practice different ways of putting the ball in the basket.
You play for Coach Dan Muller: what makes him such a good coach, and what is the most important thing that you have ever learned from him? He is very open with all of his players: he knows how to talk to each and every one of us.
Last November you had 15 PTS/10 REB in your Redbird debut against Utah State, and you finished the season by being named MVC Newcomer of the Year: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? I cannot complain about that at all. I missed 7 games but was able to come back and finish the season strong.
You missed 7 games in the middle of the season due to a broken right hand: how bad was it, and how is your health at the moment? It was bad because I had to sit out, but I am 100% right now and cannot wait to get the season started!
In the 2015 MVC tourney you scored 10 PTS in a 3-PT win over Wichita State after getting swept by them during the regular season: how hard is it to beat a team 3 times in a season, and did you think Fred VanVleet’s shot at the buzzer was going in? That was a big-time game and it took a lot for us to beat a great team like that. His shot looked good but after it missed we all celebrated.
In the 2015 NIT you scored 13 PTS in a 1-PT loss to Old Dominion: how close did you come to winning the game, and what did you learn from that game that you think can help you this year? We have to understand that if you beat a team once you cannot take them lightly the 2nd time around. We just missed some FTs at the end.
Your non-conference schedule includes games against San Diego State/Maryland/Kentucky: which of these games do you feel will present your biggest test? I feel the same about all of them. Once we finish our 1st game, the next game becomes the most important game on our schedule.
You lost 2 of your top-3 scorers from last year (Daishon Knight/Reggie Lynch): how are you going to try to replace all of that offense? We have a lot of great freshmen and transfers, and a lot of our veteran guys have improved from last year, so I think we can do a lot of great things.
You are 1 of 3 seniors on the roster: how much pressure is there on you to be a leader this year? I would not say it is pressure because it is something that I love to do, so it is going to be fun.
What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? I do not have a certain number of wins in mind: if we just take it game by game then we should be fine.