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Temple coach Fran Dunphy preaches patience with Ernest Aflakpui

Each time Temple coach Fran Dunphy has talked about the progress of 6-foot-10 sophomore Ernest Aflakpui this season, he usually adds a disclaimer.

Each time Temple coach Fran Dunphy has talked about the progress of 6-foot-10 sophomore Ernest Aflakpui this season, he usually adds a disclaimer.

"He is still learning how to play," Dunphy said Sunday after an 83-74 win over South Florida.

While there have been growing pains in his game, Aflakpui proceeds with a single-minded determination.

He came to the United States in the fall of 2012 from his home in Accra, Ghana, to attend Archbishop Carroll High School.

By his junior year in 2013-2014, he averaged 10.3 points and 8.1 rebounds in earning all-Philadelphia Catholic League honors.

His senior season was cut short to three games after he suffered a knee injury in December 2014.

Aflakpui had already signed with Temple, and he was able to return for the Owls' opener last season against then-No. 1 North Carolina.

A year ago, his playing time was sporadic. Aflakpui was held out of 13 games and missed another three with injuries. In the 18 games he played, Aflakpui averaged 7.6 minutes.

"He didn't play [nearly] at all his senior year [in high school] and didn't play a lot last year," Dunphy said.

So the coach has preached patience. During Sunday's win, the patience paid off.

Aflakpui scored a career-high 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds in 24 minutes.

"I have been working on my moves," said Aflakpui, who scores most of his points close to the basket.

The 24 minutes tied for his fourth-longest outing of the season. One reason he has not played more is foul trouble. Aflakpui has committed four or more fouls in eight games. On Sunday he had just two.

"We need his aggressiveness," Dunphy said. "It is obviously important that he stays out of foul trouble."

Aflakpui is also conscious of not losing his aggressive nature.

"Sometimes some of the fouls [called] may not be fouls, but they will call it," Aflakpui said. "You have to play hard all the time, and you will get fouls. But you have to be smart about it."

Aflakpui is averaging 4.6 points and 5.3 rebounds in 17.0 minutes for the Owls, who are 13-11, 4-7 in the American Athletic Conference heading into a home game Thursday against No. 25 Southern Methodist.

As the numbers suggest, scoring isn't close to being his main role. But when Aflakpui supplies offense inside, it opens things up for others. He has scored in double figures four times this season, and Temple is 4-0 in those games.

"Our guards have done a great job looking for me," he said.

Aflakpui still must improve on making decisions once he catches the ball in the post. But he appears to be getting better as he sees more playing time.

"I have been working on my moves, and I am confident I will get there," he said.

mnarducci@phillynews.com

@sjnard