WVU Basketball Excited For Akok Akok’s Return to Court

WVU Basketball returned forward Akok Akok against Pitt in the Backyard Brawl for the first time in six weeks. Akok played eight minutes vs. the Panthers but showed his presence in the Drexel win on Saturday.

Akok finished the night with five points, two assists, one rebound and one block in just 12 minutes. Here’s what his coach Josh Eilert and his teammates have had to say about him throughout the week.

Josh Eilert: 

“We’re so happy for the kid. Like Quinn [Slazinski] said, so much of these guys’ lives are built around the game of basketball. The fear of him losing that is crushing.”

“He gives everybody a lift on the defensive end with his size and length. From a coaching standpoint, it gives you so much more leverage out there to do what you want to do.”

Jesse Edwards:

“It helps big time on the minutes end. On top of that, he’s a really good player.”

“He’s really good at timing the way he defends. He’s up in the air to make the shot very hard for whatever it is.”

Seth Wilson:

“He’s special man. He’s one of those guys that are special so to be able to witness and see that live and be a part of it, it’s huge. We really appreciate him. His presence was definitely missed big time.”

Quinn Slazinski:

“So glad Akok was back.”

“Just so happy for him. That’s a good kid. I talk about my teammate’s characters so much. We got such great kids in the locker room. I mean Akok, he gets the scare, doesn’t know where his life is going to go just like all of us and he’s in practice clapping and laughing with us. I don’t get emotional but I love that kid. He’s been through so much and I’m just so happy for him.”