Buffs' Akyazili To Play Again For Belgian National Team

BOULDER — A year ago, Colorado guard Thomas Akyazili played a reserve role on the Belgian under-20 national team that produced the nation's best showing ever in the FIBA European Championships.

This year, Akyazili aims to have a bigger role and help Belgium advance even farther in the tournament. Akyazili, who is preparing for his sophomore season at CU, will return to Europe in July to once again take part in the European Championships, with Belgium scheduled to open competition July 16 vs. Sweden in Helsinki.

“It was a good experience,” Akyazili said of last summer's competition, when he was the youngest player on the team and ended up averaging 6.9 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. “I played OK in the tournament, but I think I can do a lot better this year. I will have a lot more responsibilities so I want to make the best of it and get better.”

Belgium advanced to the quarterfinals and finished eighth out of 20 teams last summer, the first time the Belgians had ever advanced to even the second round. This year, Akyazili is aiming for a starting spot and the chance to help Belgium advance past the quarterfinals.

“I'm excited to play for my country again,” Akyazili said. “A lot of the players in the tournament use it to get recognition and get offers from college teams or pro teams, but I obviously don't need it for that. I'm just doing it to play for my country and let them see who I am.”

Akyazili enjoyed a solid freshman season with the Buffs, increasing his playing time and production as the season wore on. He finished the year averaging 3.7 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. His assist total (53) was fifth-best on the team, and he led the 22-12 Buffs in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.7).

He was also a player head coach Tad Boyle mentioned on a regular basis as making consistent improvement. While there were no doubt some “freshman moments,” he also had some significant contributions at crucial times. He scored a career-high 10 points in a double-overtime win over Washington State and had a layup and ensuing free throw spark a 34-11 run against California that helped produce a big home win for the Buffs.

Most college players are relegated to pickup games for the summer. Akyazili believes the national team training camp and tournament will not just maintain his skill level, but perhaps increase it.

“Basketball season here, there's a long period without any games,” Akyazili said. “This is good for my rhythm, it should help me get better and I will be able to see how much I've improved compared to a year ago.”

Not that Akyazili is taking it easy as he finishes up his second semester at CU. He's been a regular at pickup games involving a variety of CU players, and spends as much time as possible in the gym working on every facet of his game.

“I need to improve on a lot of things,” Akyazili said. “First of all, consistency. I wasn't very consistent in my shooting (he shot just .325 from the field and .667 from the free throw line). I have to get better at that. I'm just spending as much time in the gym as I can because I don't want to look back in 10 years and ask myself what would have happened if I had worked harder. I don't want that. I want to get everything possible out of this experience, and it starts in the gym.”

There's no doubt Akyazili and his teammates are already looking ahead to next year. While the Buffs lose a pair of key seniors in Josh Scott and Xavier Talton, along with Tre'Shaun Fletcher, who has decided to transfer from the program, there's still plenty of talent returning.

“We should be good — really, really good,” Akyazili said. “We have guys in here working out all the time. A lot of days, the gym is full with players. Everybody wants to win, everybody wants to be ready for next year, and everybody is willing to put in the work. As long as we have that attitude and atmosphere, we're going to be a really good team next year.”

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu