Temple's Aflakpui goes from potential redshirt to recent starter

After Temple's 77-50 home loss on January 2 to Houston, coach Fran Dunphy said it was possible that 6-10 freshman Ernest Aflakpui could redshirt this year.

That was the fifth straight game that Aflakpui didn't play. In fact he had only appeared in five games, totaling 24 minutes, up until that time.

Since then Aflakpui has worked his way into the rotation. He has appeared in three of the past four games. During Saturday's 67-65 double overtime win over visiting Cincinnati, Aflakpui enjoyed the best game of his yong career.

In 20 minutes as a starter, he contributed six points (shooting 3 of 4 from the field) three rebounds and one blocked shot.

"I think we played well as a team and I went in to do my best and I am thankful for the opportunity to play," said Aflakpui, who was born in Ghana and is a graduate of Archbishop Carroll.

So what exactly changed Dunphy's mind about redshirting Aflakpui?

"Ernest changed my mind," Dunphy said. "He said 'I don't want to do it.''"

That was enough for Dunphy.

"He said 'I want to do as much this team now,'" Dunphy added. "We talked about it at length and he is such a good guy and he is doing great."

Aflakpui has started the last two games, although he only played eight minutes in the previous game, a 67-65 loss at Memphis.

"He had a great game today and gave us 20 really solid minutes," Dunphy said.

Aflakpui missed all but three games last year when he tore his meniscus. He said a recent MRI showed that he is healthy enough to play this year.

"The MRI came out great and coach Dunphy said whatever I wanted to do (about redshirting)," Aflakpui said. "I decided to play and he stuck with me."

Aflakpui said he didn't expect to start the last two games, but was obviously happy to see the time.

"He (Dunphy) asks us to work hard and he rewards hard work," Aflakpui said. "I wasn't really surprised when he started me and I knew I had to go in there and do my best."