Huskies defense will be better off upon Akok Akok’s return
As the UConn men move further into Big East play, they can look forward to adding another impact player to their lineup.
AkokAkok, out nearly 11 months since rupturing his Achillies, is poised to return. Though Akok was shown in a video on Twitter saying he would return versus Marquette, coach Dan Hurley was noncommittal.
“He’s getting closer,” Hurley
said when the Huskies arrived in Milwaukee for their game Tuesday night. “He’s looking good. It’s hard to give a timeline, but he’s definitely getting closer.”
It’s possible that Hurley will keep the date of Akok’s return to himself and as a surprise to the
Huskies’ opponent. If it doesn’t happen at Marquette, the Huskies next play Saturday at Butler, then Monday at DePaul.
“We want him back as soon as he’s ready — physically, mentally, where he’s ready to come in and help us in very intense conference games,” Hurley said. “There are no ‘get-well games’ in this league, where you can bring a guy in, let him get his feet wet versus a bottom-feeder in the league or a
low-major game to let him get right.”
The 6-foot-9 Akok, who left Putnam Science Academy to enroll at UConn in January 2019, was making his presence felt on defense as a redshirt freshman with 66 blocks in 25 games before sustaining the injury against Memphis on Feb. 16, 2020, as the Huskies fought for an emotional win after he went down.
Surgery was followed by months of intensive rehab, complicated by the pandemic. Akok was able to stay on campus to work with UConn’s medical staff and was about ready to start full-speed work when he strained his hamstring. Then the Huskies had to shut down for two weeks in November due to COVID19, and again for a week in December, setting back Akok’s pace.
But since Dec. 25, UConn has been able to practice steadily, and Akok, who was originally expected back around Jan. 1, isn’t far off.
“I would say he’s close,” Hurley said. “He’s looking good in practice, and when he is at the point where he looks game-ready, like Big East game-ready, he’ll be in.”
The Huskies have been one of the top defensive teams in the Big East, averaging 5.6 blocks per game without Akok. Adding his ability to block and alter shots and protect the rim would allow the guards to apply even more pressure on the ball.
Akok, who averaged 5.6 points per game, has 3-point-shooting skills and could be an NBA prospect as he develops his offensive skills.
Scheduling update
UConn announced start times for future scheduled games: Jan. 18 versus St. John’s will start at 5 p.m., televised on FS1; Jan. 20 versus Xavier, 8:30 p.m. (CBS Sports Network); and Jan. 23 at Creighton, either 2:30 or 5 p.m., on Fox.