Akok Akok is one of the best uncommitted players in the 2019 recruiting class. With five intriguing candidates left for his services, which one will land the 6’10 forward?
When it comes to the best performers from the AAU Live Periods this past summer, Akok Akok’s name has to be at the top of the list. The Putnam, Connecticut native was a fringe top-100 at the start of the summer but consistently outstanding performances have elevated him in the top-40 from the top basketball recruiting sites.
At 6’10 and over 200 pounds, Akok is considered one of the best pure athletes from the frontcourt positions, using his size and energy to dominate both on the boards and on the defensive end.
What wasn’t expected was his offensive game, including a solid post game and jumpshot. His elevated play allowed him to rise up the rankings and could very well be considered a five-star player by the time the final rankings comes in less than a year.
With his overall ranking heating up, so is his recruitment. Just recently, Akok had listed some teams who were recruiting him the hardest. However, the 2019 forward has now released a final five list that includes a couple of changes.
Four-star big man Akok Akok, a top-30 prospect in the 2019 class, has Pitt in his final five schools, according to @EvanDaniels. UConn, Georgetown, Providence and Syracuse are his other finalists.https://t.co/UtiRyWdwQo
— Craig Meyer (@ByCraigMeyer) September 25, 2018
This is an all northeast list, with programs such as Maryland and Virginia Tech being left out. It’s an intriguing final group of teams, with the usual suspects such as Duke, UNC, Michigan State, UK and others not around. This creates a huge opportunity for any of these five teams to land the type of player they may normally wouldn’t have the chance to.
Of the five teams involved, three of them (Pittsburgh, UConn, and Georgetown) are going through a rebuilding phase. Both the Panthers and the Huskies have new coaches in Dan Hurley and Jason Capel who have quality recruiting skills. Akok would be the first true “star” recruit for either school in this new era and accelerate the rebuild.
This is year two for Patrick Ewing and the Hoyas and after a positive rookie season, things are looking up. With seven-foot center Omer Yurtseven set to be a part of the roster in the 2019-20 season, he and Akok would form the best frontcourt in the Big East, making Georgetown an instant contender to get back to the NCAA Tournament.
Two teams who did go dancing last season were Providence and Syracuse. The Friars are in the midst of their best run as a basketball program in school history in terms of making the NCAA Tournament under Ed Cooley and would like to continue that. With so many departing seniors from last year’s team, that’ll be tough to extend. However, with a pair of top-50 freshmen joining the Friars along with potentially Akok, they’ll cement themselves towards the top of the conference.
Syracuse has gotten high-quality recruits before but they’re in somewhat desperate need of a player like Akok. Due to how Jim Boeheim uses the legendary 2-3 zone, not everyone can play for the Orange, as they prefer those with good athleticism and larger than normal wingspans. That’s especially key with the team’s center, who is the force in the paint that makes that zone so effective.
With Paschal Chukwu set to graduate after next season, Syracuse will need someone to take his place. Akok would be a great replacement for the Orange, with there not being a great Plan B if he chooses to go elsewhere.
There’s a level of importance for all commitments with high school recruits. But based on Akok’s overall talent in conjunction with the teams in his final list, there might not be a more consequential recruitment going on than this one.