Role reversal

Akok departing Storrs in search of new opportunity

He arrived in Storrs some six months early, enrolling in January, 2019 to practice (but not play) with the UConn men’s basketball team.

His eagerness to be a Husky couldn’t be contained the following winter when his playing career began — sprinting down the floor like Usain Bolt while others jogged, the megawatt smile spread across his face instantly making him a fan favorite.

Now, Akok Akok’s career at UConn will end early, as well.

Last week, the 6-foot-9 junior forward announced that he was entering the NCAA transfer portal. With no guarantees that he’d play any more (and perhaps less) than the 14 minutes per game he averaged this past season, Akok is looking for greener pastures.

“He needed a better opportunity,” said Vin Pastore, who coached Akok with the Mass Rivals AAU team and is helping him through the transfer process. “He felt perfectly comfortable that he was gonna play at UConn this upcoming year, but not the opportunity he’s looking for at this point.”

Akok began this past season getting fairly regular playing time, starting a handful of games. But it became clear over the final six weeks of the season that the staff just didn’t trust him to play major minutes, or in big spots. Down the stretch, Akok might pop in midway through the first half, block a shot, hit a jumper, miss a defensive assignment and/or get beat for a rebound. He’d return to the bench after maybe five or six minutes, often not to return at all.

And that’s if he played at all. Akok didn’t play in either of UConn’s Big East tournament games, and saw just three minutes of action in the Huskies’ NCAA tournament loss to New Mexico State.

“I think in his mind, he loved the school, he very much liked his teammates, had good relationships and was optimistic,”

Jessica Hill / Associated Press Akok Akok’s energy and enthusiasm made him a popular player in Storrs. He announced last week that he is transferring from UConn.