Akok enters the portal

[aburks41]

You have to remember he used to not smile

He refused to answer because it’s never been written about nor has it ever been an issue with Akok. He claims he’s buddy buddy with the PSA coaching staff who have the reputation for being some of the sleaziest in the region. I wouldn’t believe a word that comes out of their mouths lmao

 

[freescooter]

Akok had a terrible injury. Something like 30% of people with such injuries never completely recover. So being reticent about pushing it is unsurprising.

 

[M.S.G.]

you need to keep my name out of your mouth my friend.

I’ve said too much, so I’ll let ignorance be bliss.

Carry on.

 

[UconnFanDC]

I just heard he's headed here.

International Career Development Conference

 

[aburks41]

you need to keep my name out of your mouth my friend.

I’ve said too much, so I’ll let ignorance be bliss.

Carry on.

Because you said “it’s been written about” and I said to show me the proof and you came up with nothing.

 

[Kmba2Rmemba]

you need to keep my name out of your mouth my friend.

Strong Will Smith vibes on this

 

[fatlucy]

you need to keep my name out of your mouth my friend.

I’ve said too much, so I’ll let ignorance be bliss.

Carry on.

That would be “pretty little name”

 

[auror]

Because you said “it’s been written about” and I said to show me the proof and you came up with nothing.

Re-read what he wrote...

I know the coaching staff at PSA. It's been talked about not sure if it's been written about. Definitely didn't make this up.

Chill out dude.

 

[aburks41]

Re-read what he wrote...

He edited it

 

[Madmannsucks]

Bet Hurley is hitting the gym big time...ANDREW Hurley.

 

[JB75]

Now this is a kid I will root for at his next stop. He's going to do great things. Didn't get a chance. This one is on Hurley for sure. I'm still boggled how Akok came in, blocked 3 shots in two minutes, got sent out and never came back again. What's the message there? Really likable young man with a bright future.

Yeah I guess only good thing about him leaving is I can stop yelling at my TV screen “where the hell is akok?” “Why won’t Hurley ever put him in for more minutes?” Etc. Weird because every time he came in he would do something positive : bang a three , block a shot , get his teammates and the crowd amped up - and then he wud never come back in the game again. another weird one for Hurley -not really giving a chance to.

 

[uc1990]

Really bummed about this. Akok will be missed but I guess the way Hurley saw it he wasn’t going to get minutes anyway. Crazy cause I thought he was really close with the few minutes he played. I hope he gets back to his block and then nailing a 3 on the other end self. As long as it isn’t against us. Is he going to cuse now?

 

[willie99]

The first transfer I'm disappointed the hear about. Maybe because I still see the pre injury Akok Akok. Maybe because he's been here a while.

Maybe he's tired of fighting for minutes, just wants to play. I think he can really help someone next year, where there's minutes to be had

 

[jchusky]

guarantee you where Akok goes next a head coach will know how to use him, just like Carlton at Houston. Well well well, where are the Dan Hurley apologists? Tell me how is this any worse than Kevin Ollie? Oh yea let's give him more time, 10 years should be enough.

 

[CTBasketball]

Akok leaving is sad but people blaming Hurley for not playing him are insane. You wanted him playing over Whaley? Over Polley? Whaley played 28.5 mpg. Sanogo 30. That's 22 minutes available at the 4/5 and every time Akok had to defend in the post he got bullied. So call that 15 mpg assuming Whaley can take some of Sanogos minutes. Where in the world did people expect Akok to be played more?
Its sad he couldn't become what he was projected but that in NO WAY is on Hurley and is entirely on injuries.

What exactly did playing Whaley and Polley get us?

 

[Bomber36]

The transfer portal has turned the NCAA to the NBA without contracts.

 

[Sonofabeach]

Yup, this was the last shoe I was waiting for. Not that I expected Floyd to leave, I didn’t.

I think The Boneyard should send over some practice players. I believe most of us have our eligibility intact.

In any event, I wish AA the very, very best. Great guy who got dealt a really bad hand with his injury.

I'll be the player on the bench that high fives everyone when we make 3's oh wait! "making 3's" that's the UConn women's team.

 

[MJKI]

What exactly did playing Whaley and Polley get us?

You don’t actually believe Akok was more valuable than Polley? Was Polley one-dimensional? Yes. But he did that one thing much better than Akok. Spare me with Akok shot 45% from 3. Polley had more 3s attempted in the first 4 weeks of December. Akok could not create separation for his shot and instead relied on a pristine pass to an open corner. Polley could at least pump fake and get a shot up. And Whaley is one of the best defenders weve had in years, an amazing and unselfish team player that was light years ahead of Akok.

What did this get us? A 5 seed in the NCAA tournament, question hurley all you want but saying Whaley and Polley didn’t give us anything is a weird hill to die on

 

[CTBasketball]

You don’t actually believe Akok was more valuable than Polley? Was Polley one-dimensional? Yes. But he did that one thing much better than Akok. Spare me with Akok shot 45% from 3. Polley had more 3s attempted in the first 4 weeks of December. Akok could not create separation for his shot and instead relied on a pristine pass to an open corner. Polley could at least pump fake and get a shot up. And Whaley is one of the best defenders weve had in years, an amazing and unselfish team player that was light years ahead of Akok.

What did this get us? A 5 seed in the NCAA tournament, question hurley all you want but saying Whaley and Polley didn’t give us anything is a weird hill to die on

Prioritizing on Polley and Whaley’s minutes helped lead us to the situation in which we currently find ourselves.

Was it worth it?

 

[MJKI]

Prioritizing on Polley and Whaley’s minutes helped lead us to the situation in which we currently find ourselves.

Was it worth it?

Yes, it was. Taking minutes from our only floor spacing shooter and our best defender would have been malpractice. I feel like I’m taking looney pills. We lost 4 players so far who are not high big east level performers. None of these guys are even Roscoe Smith sized transfer losses…

 

[Hankster]

Now this is a kid I will root for at his next stop. He's going to do great things. Didn't get a chance. This one is on Hurley for sure. I'm still boggled how Akok came in, blocked 3 shots in two minutes, got sent out and never came back again. What's the message there? Really likable young man with a bright future.

Along with blocks he made some nice threes. Hard to understand.

 

[navery12]

Prioritizing on Polley and Whaley’s minutes helped lead us to the situation in which we currently find ourselves.

Was it worth it?

Yes

 

[B1GEast]

I think the portal and NIL rules are good for college kids. If a guy doesn't fit an offense and he has a few years left and can help another program, why hold him hostage. We benefitted by the additions of Cole and Martin.

Best of luck to Akok, and all the rest of the guys that wore the uniform. I hope, like Carlton, they all help their new teams and remain prideful of being a husky at one time.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Akok never got the chance to get his game legs back.

Sure he was rusty at times but he was still an effective shooter and was running the court. The lateral quickness and awareness on D were going to he a work on progress.

Hurley has never been a one step back to get two steps forward coach when it comes to managing minutes and getting players time on the court.

That is why many of us wanted more burn for some of these players in the December cupcake games.

Out of all the transfers Gaffney was the only who got enough game time minutes where you could honestly assess him being over his head.

You glue Akok to the bench and them put him in for a minute before pulling him because he is rusty is short sighted.

This isn't MLB where they go to assignment in the minors to get back their timing. Live games acclimation has to happen.

 

[Chin Diesel]

With all this being said I'm done pondering g the how's and why's of the transfers.
Wish no ill will towards them and hope they use whatever elicited have left to maximize their education opportunities.

 

[8893]

Hurley has never been a one step back to get two steps forward coach when it comes to managing minutes and getting players time on the court.

The one exception to this is Andre, who has been given a far longer leash than any other Hurley player imo.

I love his story, I love his skills and I love his attitude, but I am curious to see if he will fulfill his potential now that Hurley has cleared the path for him to be the captain and leader of the team going forward. I think there will be a lot more pressure on him next season and I hope he can handle it, while still trying to develop and put together his package of skills in the most effective way.

 

[HuskyHawk]

The one exception to this is Andre, who has been given a far longer leash than any other Hurley player imo.

I love his story, I love his skills and I love his attitude, but I am curious to see if he will fulfill his potential now that Hurley has cleared the path for him to be the captain and leader of the team going forward. I think there will be a lot more pressure on him next season and I hope he can handle it, while still trying to develop and put together his package of skills in the most effective way.

Agree with you. It's ironic in some ways that he's the guy throwing shade. Tantalizing athlete for sure, but nobody was allowed to play through more mistakes. He lead the team in boneheaded plays by a wide margin. I'm glad, because that's the kind of investment a coach needs to make in a player with high potential. Hurley should have taken that approach with Johnson as well. Especially when the combination of Jackson and Whaley at spots was killing us on offense.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

Hurley should have taken that approach with Johnson as well.

It's always tough to Monday morning quarterback when you're removed from the in the moment pressure to win games but, yes, I would feel a lot better about potential starting lineups if Johnson had gotten some meaningful reps last year. At least next year he's going to have to let him play through his growing pains.

 

[DayDayTFS]

Along with blocks he made some nice threes. Hard to understand.

He had sooo many chances to take minutes but his entire game has been non existent since his injury. 1 or 2 games with a couple threes, only to usually go back to playing no D after. Wished he’d recovered but he’s nowhere close

 

[Tonyf629]