Boise State Basketball: Former top-50 recruit Emmanuel Akot transfers to Broncos

Former top-50 recruit and Arizona forward Emmanuel Akot has selected Boise State to play for the 2019-20 NCAA Basketball season.

Emmanuel Akot will transfer from Arizona to Boise St. following the completion of the spring semester, according to Evan Daniels of 247Sports. The 6-foot-7 sophomore has not been with the team since the end of the first semester. He will have two years of eligibility remaining, although the Canadian native will likely have to sit out the 2019-20 campaign.

Akot played in 17 games for the Wildcats this year, including 13 starts, and averaged 3.8 points along with 2.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists over 19.3 minutes. He shot just 39.4% from the field, 28.4 percent from the 3-point line as well as 42.9% from the free throw line. Akot has yet to score in double-figures in 48 career games.

The Wasatch Academy (Mount Pleasant, Utah) product is known for his sinewy frame as well as his quickness and bounciness. He is a slasher who thrives in transition and has the ability to finish with either hand. Akot also possesses solid ball-handling skills and has good court vision. However, he is not a fluid athlete and is unable to create his own shot.

Akot graded out as the 42nd 2017 best prospect by the Recruiting Services Consensus Index. The consensus five-star prospect was rated as the No. 24 an No. 28 prospect in the class by 247 Sports Composite and 247 Sports, respectively.  ESPN had him pegged at No. 43 and Rivals had him at No. 26.

Boise St. (11-13, 6-5 MWC) is on pace to produce its second-fewest wins ever under coach Leon Rice this year. The Broncos, who have won at least 20 games in each of the last six seasons, should be capable of challenging for a top seed in the Mountain West Conference tournament next. year as just two of their top-nine players is seniors. But, 6-foot-8 redshirt sophomore Derrick Alston is the only player who is a major contributor that likely will be with the program when Akot becomes eligible to play (2020-2021).

All three of the Broncos 2018-19 recruits have taken a redshirt this year as did two walk-ons, including Max Rice, the coach’s son. 6-foot-10 Mikey Frazier and 6-foot-7 wing Jaycson BeReal are three-star recruits per 247Sports. 6-foot-8 combo forward Riley Abercrombie is the other scholarship freshman who is redshirting this season. In some concerning news, BeReal was arrested on Feb. 10 and charged with two misdemeanors, including battery.

Rice only had one scholarship for the 2019-20 season available and he already used that with the signing of 6-foot-2 Raymond Dennis. Dennis is expected to be the Broncos point guard of the future.

Boise State is projected to have six scholarships available for the 2020-21 campaign. The Broncos currently have six open offers with several of those to top prospects. Consensus top-25 prospect Ziaire Williams is one of the players that hold an offer from the Broncos.

Meanwhile, four-star prospect Che Evans has Boise St. among his final six schools. Four-star wing Jaylen Clark along with three-star point guard Lamont Butler Jr., three-star power forward Justin Lewis and three-plus star Nick Blake are the other players currently holding offers.