KeaneyBlue - The URI Basketball Forum

Akok Akok - PF
From: Manchester, NH
School: Putnam Science (CT)
Travel/AAU:

Ht: 6'8"
Wt:

RANKINGS:
Rivals:



OFFERS:
Rhode Island
DePaul
Iona
Louisville
PC
Rutgers
St. Bonaventure
UMass
Virginia Tech
Washington State

http://www.scout.com/player/216661-akok-akok
http://www.espn.com/college-sports/bask ... /akok-akok
http://verbalcommits.com/players/akok-akok
http://www.newenglandrecruitingreport.c ... eplace-109
http://247sports.com/Player/Akok-Akok-46035535

Wake me when it's October of 2018....

Can't wait to hear Steve announce "Fatts Russell to Akok Akok for the slam!"

There has got to be a joke in here somewhere about URI women liking Fatts Akok...

Ladies loving Fatts Akok could be the new Mbang you til you can't Seawright.

Providence and Louisville offered per his twitter.

Best name since Dick Hole.

STC wrote:There has got to be a joke in here somewhere about URI women liking Fatts Akok...

Ladies loving Fatts Akok could be the new Mbang you til you can't Seawright.

There must be a William Hung song in there, somewhere.

Any relation to Ben Dover,or Mike Hunt?

rodfromcranston wrote:Any relation to Ben Dover,or Mike Hunt?

No but I think he's cousins with Anita Ley.

Akok appears to be one of the next men up for the Mass Rivals squad that has produced tons of talent over the years, including Providence incoming freshman Makai Ashton-Langford and 2018 recruiting targets David Duke and AJ Reeves. Previously a member of the 2018 class, Akok re-classified last summer when transferring from Manchester West to Putnam Science Academy. He is running with the 17U Mass Rivals — alongside Duke and Reeves — on the adidas Gauntlet series this year. Through two sessions during April Mass Rivals is 8-0 and Akok is averaging 12.0 points/game, 4.0 blocks/game and is shooting 54.8% from beyond the arc on 42 attempts. Akok also recently attended the prestigious NBPA Top 100 camp and was invited to the adidas Nations, which will take place in California next week.

Akok, who is the nephew of Manute Bol, is still raw but has the physical tools and is developing an inside-out game. He recently told Cardinal Authority that he is “comfortable playing the wing” and said he doesn’t “like to be down there in the post except block a lot of shots on defense.” Akok currently holds offer from Creighton, DePaul, Iona, Louisville, Manhattan, Massachusetts, NC State, Providence, Rhode Island, Rutgers, St. Bonaventure, Virginia Tech and Washington State.

https://pcbb1917.com/2017/06/22/provide ... ed-cooley/

He was visiting Providence last night for the meltdown

Any chance the suspension of the game due to the wet floor turns Akok off of PC ??

From what I have read Akok is a Tom Moore guy so....

Not sure they’re actually in on him, but-

https://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com ... -takeaways

“Whenever Akok is engaged and competing, there is not many more special prospects nationally. He was just that on Wednesday night as head coaches from UConn and Rhode Island, along with assistants from Georgetown, Virginia Tech, Butler, DePaul, Providence, Syracuse and NC State were all on hand. A commitment is likely in the cards for before the turn of the calendar as the best from the northeast remain in strong pursuit.“

After talking with the HC of Mass Rivals last week at Gauntlet it appears to me URI has no shot at any of their players. He didn’t have positive things to say. All stemming from URI hiring his competitors in Boswell and Carroll. He “liked Jim Baron”. He called Scott Hazeltine who played for URI his son.

I watched Akok in two games. The first game he was 1-13 FG. The second game he was much better. I think he shot 40% (all from the outside). He doesn’t go down low on offense. He does a good job blocking shots. He likes to shoot the 3. He is 6’9” and very skinny (especially his legs).

Rhody83 wrote:After talking with the HC of Mass Rivals last week at Gauntlet it appears to me URI has no shot at any of their players. He didn’t have positive things to say. All stemming from URI hiring his competitors in Boswell and Carroll. He “liked Jim Baron”. He called Scott Hazeltine who played for URI his son.

I watched Akok in two games. The first game he was 1-13 FG. The second game he was much better. I think he shot 40% (all from the outside). He doesn’t go down low on offense. He does a good job blocking shots. He likes to shoot the 3. He is 6’9” and very skinny (especially his legs).

I'd much rather be in with Expressions anyway.

Will be an early test on how Hurley does against tougher competition.

Cox must think we have a shot if he’s spending time on him.

I don't think URI is spending time on him.

Cox may have been there early or in between games. Last week Cox was early for K Low game so they watched 2nd half of Mass Rivals. The 3 players Rhody offered on Mass Rivals was when Hurley was HC. Akok, Burton & Leveque. I think Rhody’s interest is in Leveque. Big rebounder with college ready body.

For college coaches, these events are about 50% being seen by the players you want the most, 30% catching up with your coaching friends, and 20% actually watching players.

You might be low on the 50

Iggy1979 wrote:You might be low on the 50

That’s fair. And, of course, it’s all in the context of hoping the guys you really want don’t ball out and attract more attention.

They have seen their top targets play so many times by now. Agree with the to be seen. A lot of cell phone activity while the game is going on.
Akok had a big game today. Mass Rivals 2-0 in pool play. PC with their Rivals connection is focusing on Akok.
Box score in link.

https://basketball.exposureevents.com/1 ... 183279&r=7

ace wrote:For college coaches, these events are about 50% being seen by the players you want the most, 30% catching up with your coaching friends, and 20% actually watching players.

To Ace’s point. Pic of coaches during a game at Summer Jam yesterday. Phone time.

Rhody83 wrote:

ace wrote:For college coaches, these events are about 50% being seen by the players you want the most, 30% catching up with your coaching friends, and 20% actually watching players.

To Ace’s point. Pic of coaches during a game at Summer Jam yesterday. Phone time.

And people claim this is a millennial issue...

I wonder if the players notice this and would give "extra credit" to a coach that was actually paying attention

There are 100s of coaches on sideline chairs and in bleachers. Not sure the players focus on them. After the game the coach can text the player so they know they were there. No face/to-face contact allowed.

Last week Cooley was on baseline between two courts to try to catch two games. All the other coaches were on the sideline. He had his back to Bishop’s game most of the time. Bishop had a break away slam and it almost hit Cooley on the head. I think Cooley made a mistake sticking out like that.

I recognize Mike Bray in one of the photos. Who else is there ???

reef wrote:I recognize Mike Bray in one of the photos. Who else is there ???

Buzz Williams (Va Tech). I see Jon Rothstein doing his reporting. A lot of Ast Coaches. Figure the ratio of Ast Coaches to HC is probably 3 to 1.

Rhody83 wrote:PC with their Rivals connection is focusing on Akok.

PC's main focus is on 3/4 Greg Gantt out of North Carolina. For a while it was on both Akok and Gantt but there was some funny business that happened with Akok early in the AAU season and I think it led many people to think that he was headed to Syracuse. They are still definitely recruiting him trying to play the Rivals angle now that he is back with the program but most assumed his move to PSA was a death blow to his recruitment for PC.

I talked to Vin Pastore (Rivals coach) last week. He loves Cooley.

Akok hasn't played all week in Orlando tournament. He was on the bench in street cloths during the Quarter Finals today. No mention from anyone on Twitter at the event or from MassRivals

There is chatter that Akok may be one of the top 5 players in the class after his summer....

Ramulous wrote:There is chatter that Akok may be one of the top 5 players in the class after his summer....

He will look good in Syracuse Orange

Getting him there might be Buddy’s first assist!

Rhody83 wrote:

Ramulous wrote:There is chatter that Akok may be one of the top 5 players in the class after his summer....

He will look good in Syracuse Orange

Syracuse isn't a safe assumption anymore. When he switched from Mass Rivals to PSA, everyone was assuming that he'd commit to Cuse. But then he switched back to Mass Rivals after a couple weeks. I bet that the Syracuse/PSA connection rumor didn't make the Mass Rivals coach happy at all. He's probably pushing PC or UConn over Cuse at this point. Maybe Boeheim got a firm enough hold on him, but it doesn't seem like it... PC got a couple picks on 247 recently.

FattsAndFurious wrote:

Rhody83 wrote:

Ramulous wrote:There is chatter that Akok may be one of the top 5 players in the class after his summer....

He will look good in Syracuse Orange

Syracuse isn't a safe assumption anymore. When he switched from Mass Rivals to PSA, everyone was assuming that he'd commit to Cuse. But then he switched back to Mass Rivals after a couple weeks. I bet that the Syracuse/PSA connection rumor didn't make the Mass Rivals coach happy at all. He's probably pushing PC or UConn over Cuse at this point. Maybe Boeheim got a firm enough hold on him, but it doesn't seem like it... PC got a couple picks on 247 recently.

I talked to the MassRivals coach at the Adidias tournament in NYC. Very positive things to say about Syracuse.

Rhody83 wrote:

FattsAndFurious wrote:

Rhody83 wrote:
He will look good in Syracuse Orange

Syracuse isn't a safe assumption anymore. When he switched from Mass Rivals to PSA, everyone was assuming that he'd commit to Cuse. But then he switched back to Mass Rivals after a couple weeks. I bet that the Syracuse/PSA connection rumor didn't make the Mass Rivals coach happy at all. He's probably pushing PC or UConn over Cuse at this point. Maybe Boeheim got a firm enough hold on him, but it doesn't seem like it... PC got a couple picks on 247 recently.

I talked to the MassRivals coach at the Adidias tournament in NYC. Very positive things to say about Syracuse.

Oh that's good. Hope them or Maryland land him over the other 2

Just popped for Hurley at UConn, huge steal over PC Abenante Cooley. I know most probably hate Dan, but he’s proving what he said he could do with the proper resources like big time facilities.

NorthernRamFan wrote: ↑5 years ago Just popped for Hurley at UConn, huge steal over PC Abenante Cooley. I know most probably hate Dan, but he’s proving what he said he could do with the proper resources like big time facilities.

Yup. He is off to a great start at Uconn. Akok is a great get. He wasn’t getting anyone in that level at URI

I don't know, I heard Akok only signed because of Bobby, Preston and Cox.

RamStock wrote: ↑5 years ago

NorthernRamFan wrote: ↑5 years ago Just popped for Hurley at UConn, huge steal over PC Abenante Cooley. I know most probably hate Dan, but he’s proving what he said he could do with the proper resources like big time facilities.

Yup. He is off to a great start at Uconn. Akok is a great get. He wasn’t getting anyone in that level at URI

I've seen Akok play a few times. Jared Terrell was a better player at that stage than Akok is.

May be true, but his ceiling is likely much higher than Jared's due to his frame and skill set (3 and D)

What is the story here? I read in one place that he will pay his own way as a walk on ( sure ....) and another source says he will red shirt. I assume you need to be on scholarship to red shirt. Anyone know the truth?

( I assume Ace will know)

You can pay your own way and be a redshirt. Redshirt just means he will not use up any eligibility this year.