Bob Huggins Visiting UConn Transfer Akok Akok in Storrs on Monday

Sources tell WV Sports Now that West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins is traveling to Storrs, CT, on Monday to meet with UConn transfer Akok Akok. It was reported on Sunday night that WVU plans on hosting Akok for a visit to Morgantown next week.

Huggins is meeting with Akok to pitch West Virginia to him before he goes off to visit Georgetown mid-week and Pitt during the weekend. The Hall of Fame coach is hoping that Akok will visit Morgantown before making a decision on his new school. If Akok doesn’t decide on a school by next week, the Sudan native will be visiting West Virginia.

Akok (6-foot-9, 215 pounds) spent the last three seasons at UConn under head coach Dan Hurley. During his freshman season, Akok averaged 5.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game. Akok suffered a torn Achilles in February 2020, but has since recovered. Last season, Akok struggled to get consistent minutes for the Huskies, averaging 3.4 points. When the Huskies came to play West Virginia at the Coliseum last season, Akok scored two points and brought down 10 rebounds.

Last season, the Mountaineers struggled in the paint offensively and defensively. WVU finished 352nd in the country in defensive rebounding and 328th in two-point attempts. Akok shot 48 percent from the field and averaged 3.2 rebounds in 14 minutes per game.

West Virginia has one scholarship remaining for the 2022-23 roster and they are going hard after Akok. WVU’s coaching staff so far has picked up South Carolina transfer Erik Stevenson and Iowa’s Joe Toussaint, while also getting JUCO bigs Mohamed Wague and Jimmy Bell Jr. 

Akok has two years of eligibility remaining. WV Sports Now will keep up to date with the latest recruiting and transfer portal news during the offseason.