Lincoln's Accaoui continues hoop career at Vermont 

Concrete items such as point production don’t always paint the entire picture. Exhibit A is Joey Accaoui. Accaoui is a Lincoln native who these days is lacing up his high-tops at Vermont. He’s a sophomore who’s emerged as a strong option off the bench for head coach Mike Lonergan. A product of Mike Hart’s basketball factory at St. Andrew’s in Barrington, Accaoui is averaging a hair under five points for the Catamounts, shooting at a 50 percent clip (7-of-14) from 3-point territory. If the point total appears modest, it is. Accaoui ranks seventh on his club in scoring and eighth in minutes at just under 15 per. If that’s all the evidence needed to pass judgment on Accaoui, put on the breaks. Accaoui brings plenty of intangibles that aren’t reflected in black numbers lined up on a piece of paper.

“He’s a threat every time he steps on the floor, so teams always have to guard him,” said Lonergan, who had the unenviable task of taking the torch from the Tom Brennan/T.J. Sorrentine era. “He’s got one of the best work ethics on the team and is extremely coachable.” If compliments like the aforementioned from Lonergan, who hinted Accaoui is the prohibitive favorite to become elected captain next season, is giving the 5-foot-10 guard (more like 5-foot-7 according to his coach) a big head, think again. Accaoui is a subscriber to the day-to-day route.

Translation: All Accaoui desires is to leave the hardwood a little bit better and stronger than when he set foot on it. “All I want to do is improve each day,” he says about his chief focus. Accaoui has undergone a transition this winter. After years of filling the wings and waiting from a teammate to throw a pass his way, he’s now a distributor and facilitator.

Serving as the primary backup to starting point guard Mike Trimboli, Accaoui is adjusting to the lifestyle of making decisions with the ball in his hands. “You have to talk and be a general out there and make sure the guys are where they are supposed to be,” said Accaoui. Serving as the Catamounts’ backup quarterback isn’t going to rob Accaoui of his best attribute. “Even though I’m playing point, they still want me to look for my shot,” said Accaoui. Accaoui’s freshman foray into Division I hoops was a struggle at times, while other times revealed glimpses of potential. His bulls-eye aim eluded him in the early going, making just one of his first 19 3s in a Catamount uniform. A strong finish coincided when Longeran awarded Accaoui him his first start against Stony Brook last Feb. 17. Accaoui followed up by coming off the bench to score 13 and 14 points, respectively, against Hartford and UNC-Wilmington.

CLICK HERE for complete article.