Syracuse Basketball: Former 5-star big-man recruit to transfer from UConn

Akok Akok, who had Syracuse basketball in his final five as a member of the 2019 recruiting class before selecting Connecticut, has entered into the NCAA’s transfer portal, according to the Verbal Commits Web site.

The 6-foot-10 power forward, as a junior during the 2021-22 season, appeared in 23 games for the Huskies, averaging 13.9 minutes, 3.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per contest, according to his bio on the ESPN Web site. Akok connected on 47.6 percent from the field, 46.4 percent from beyond the arc and 33.3 percent from the free-throw line.

UConn, a long-time Big East Conference rival of the Orange, went 23-10 overall and 13-6 in league play in the 2021-22 term. The Huskies, as a No. 5 seed, lost in the 2022 NCAA Tournament’s round of 64 to No. 12 seed New Mexico State.

We’ll obviously monitor whether the ‘Cuse coaching staff elects to reach out to Akok. Given that the 2022-23 roster for the Orange will have multiple forwards, including current freshman Benny Williams, 2022 three-star commit Maliq Brown and 2022 three-star commit Peter Carey, I’d be a little surprised if Syracuse basketball coaches decide to make a run at Akok.

Syracuse basketball was in the mix for big man Akok Akok a few years back.

Akok, who is from Manchester, N.H., received around 20 scholarship offers throughout his recruitment as a 2019 power forward, according to the 247Sports Web site.

As we noted in prior columns on him, Akok’s five finalists coming out of Putnam Science Academy in Putnam, Conn., were Connecticut, the ‘Cuse, Georgetown, Pittsburgh and Providence.

A lot of Big East ties there toward the end of his recruiting process. He did take an official visit to the Hill, according to media reports.

Born in Cairo, Egypt, Akok in the 2019 cycle was rated as five stars, No. 22 nationally, No. 5 at power forward and No. 1 in Connecticut, according to 247Sports.

ESPN had him as four stars, No. 63 overall and No. 14 at power forward.

The industry-generated 247Sports Composite, meanwhile, placed Akok at No. 92 across the country, No. 15 at power forward and No. 2 in Connecticut within the 2019 class.