Headliner Sports Editor Pat Dailey engaged in a Q's and A's session with Nixa junior guard Ace Akers:

Q: Is Ace your real name?

Akers: Yes it is. My Dad was the one who really wanted me to have the name Ace. He thought it was a cool name. I like it. Nobody has that name. Everybody who meets me says it's the coolest name they've heard.

Q: What are your hobbies outside of sports?

Akers: I like to fish and play Fortnite. I fish at Table Rock Lake. I go all over the place there. When it's raining or cold outside, I play Fortnite. We usually squad up. We'll have 100 people start out and you've got to outlast everybody. I'm decent at it. I'd say one of the better ones on our team.  

Q: Past or present, who is a Nixa athlete you've admired?

Akers: Bryce Dulin (who went on to play at Navy). I like how he played quick, how he got shots off and he was athletic. I strive to be quick and create my own shots like he did.

Q: What are your favorite TV shows?

Akers: I watch SportsCenter for basketball and baseball. 

Q: What is your favorite sports team?

Akers: I like the Lakers. I just went to a Lakers game last week (in Oklahoma City). I got to see Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma, who was coming off a 30-point game. I like how he plays. I actually just became a Lakers fan because of LeBron (James). I did like the Cavs. 

Q: What is something about you not a lot of people in Nixa know?

Akers: I like to be in the weight room a lot. That's one of the most fun things I do. I like squats. Deadlift is my favorite because that's one of the better baseball workouts. 

Q: How is it that you shoot and dribble right-handed in basketball, but throw left-handed in baseball? 

Akers: I don't know. I'm weird like that, a little ambidextrous.

Q: With your sister, JaiDee, being a golfer at Southwest Baptist, do you play golf, as well?

Akers: My Dad wanted me to be in golf. But I don't have the patience for it. It's frustrating most of the time to me. It's a slow game. I like to be moving most of the time. I never really have time for it, anyway, with baseball and basketball and I played football growing up. I do play here and there at Fremont Hills.

Q: What is your favorite class in school?

Akers: My favorite class would probably be math. When I go to college, I'll want to get a business degree.

Q: Where would you like to go to college?

Akers: My goal is go to to Arizona State and play baseball. Anything can happen. I want to go as far as I can with baseball.