USF eyeing 6-foot-11 center from IMG

There's a new name in Stan Heath's search for a big man to take over next season after center Kentrell Gransberry's USF career ends: Teeng Akol, a 6-foot-11 center from Sudan who is turning heads at IMG Academy in Bradenton.

USF is actively recruiting Akol, who transferred to IMG in November after playing two seasons at Our Savior New American, a well-known program in Centereach, N.Y., (Long Island) and is averaging about 18 points and 13 rebounds a game for IMG's postgraduate team.

"South Florida is at the top of the list," IMG's Dan Barto said Wednesday, listing Pittsburgh, Oklahoma, Rutgers and Houston among his top suitors. "I know he's very interested in (USF), and he's interested in staying around here. He has friends and relatives up north, so the Big East is very attractive to him."

Barto said Akol played well this past weekend in the Great Southern Showcase, a prep-school tournament in Jackson, Miss., and was rated as the No. 5 overall prospect out of 27 prep schools in attendance. Akol (pronounced "ting" and "a-KOHL") is still a bit undersized at 220 pounds, but Barto said he was at 207 when he got to IMG, so bulking up has and will be a priority.

"He's extremely skilled. He has a very good feel and is a very good finisher," Barto said when asked for Akol's strengths. "He's very long and very high-hipped, so he's much quicker off the floor than most kids his size."

Barto said he expects other programs to jump on Akol as they recognize that current centers who are underclassmen might be leaving for the NBA Draft. With Gransberry done after this season, USF has a major need for post players, and Barto said USF has been "very forward and upfront" about the playing time Akol would likely have with the Bulls. Assistants Reggie Hanson and Byron Samuels have been recruiting Akol, though Heath watched him personally when IMG played against Hillsborough Community College, which has another top USF target in forward Keith Brumbaugh.

Comments

[Ari Hinkelberger]

If we don't get Brumbaugh in a USF uniform next year, we will probably go another year of 1-15 Big East B-Ball.

I read the guy is averaging 40 points a game at HCC.

[CR]

Well if we get Brumbaugh and Akol. That would be a nice start

[G.A.]

Ari, Ari. It's just 36 points per game. I might have more on that later ...

[The Champ]

This kid is really skilled by all reports, but he is not a back to basket big man.He is similar to Brumbaugh in a way that while they are both near 7ft tall they are face the basket and catch and shoot players.Forcing either guy to become a true center would be handicapping their game imo.

I would like for USF to sign these two guys and the Goins kid that is showing interest in the Bulls.

Looks like Heath plans on bringing in 4 or 5 new players which he has to do in order for USF to become the team he thinks they can by year 3 of his tenure here.

BTW he has to bring in 1 guard as well, hopfully one that can shoot and take coaching well.

[CR]

Mercer is a guard. We need BIG MEN

[Miles Lamoureux]

Greg,
Do you know how many years eligibility Akol would have? Not sure if IMG counts as his freshman year.

[G.A.]

IMG's just a prep school. He'd come in like any other freshman, with four years to play.

[Herman Momart]

Our Savior is a great program, do we know why he left for IMG? Juan Palacios at Louisville played there.

I like the "very forward and upfront" approach. I would lay listen to Reggie Hanson, seems like a cool guy. He played at Kentucky, Ari tells me there is an award named after him there.

Brumbaugh, Akol, Mercer and Jones. sounds like a nice young nucleus.

[Ken]

There is hope.

[JP]

Brumbaugh is real good... if your interested in watching him play... HCC games are free... hes also getting like 10 rebounds and like 6 steals and 7 assist a game... and he can make free throws(86%)... with him, Akol, Mercer and Goins USF could be in the upper half of the big east next yr...

[andres]

I know a little bit about AKol being a terps BB fan. He is very long and athletic. Thats the way Gary Williams likes his players and he had him on his recruiting radar when he was in HS. This is the talent we need at USF. BE Talent. No more 6'0 guards or 6'7 unathletic lanky Fowards. Heath is on the right path if he is recruiting guys like Akol.

[Kush]

Brumbaugh dropped his usual 40 last night in a loss to #3 Polk (20-3)

[AGW]

How many available scholarships do we have available for next season? I have us having 11 scholarships filled with the additions of Mercer and Espinosa included. Doesn't the NCAA allow for 13 scholarships per team? Thus, leaving us with 2 more scholarships to fill for next season. If so Brumbaugh and Akol would be great. They give us size, BE talent, and athleticism.

[AGW]

How many people think Bozeman and Saaka should transfer before next year? I kno I do and I hope Stan Heath sits down with Aris Williams and tells him that he will never play and should not renew his scholarship. If he wants to be apart of this program he can do so with walk-on status or transfer out (again).

Then with the open scholarships we should go after Jason Bennett or Jon Kreft, Steve Goins and then Gary Flowers or Mike Jones. This would give us a real competitive team for the next 2 to 3 years. I dont care f they have past troubles, we need talent and need to win ASAP.

[Reality]

AKOL is SKINNY, so the added weight will be huge when he is playing for Depaul.....

He would be a real player though for Stan, so let's hope for the best...

[Ari Hinkelberger]

In watcing 10 + years of USF basketball I think Jones is the first recruit to ever come in and contribute significantly...

Every year we hear of tall tales and great recruits.

This year it was Aaron Holmes... Before that it was Verdejo... Before that if that that European guy....

The only guy that I see that is a sure thing is that Brumbaugh kid.

If you are throwing down 40 points a game.. I am sure you can put up 19-20 in the Big East.

[Jonny]

Ari, don't give up on Holmes just yet... He needs to get back to what he did in HS, shooting the ball more...

He's still gonna be darn good.

[G.A.]

AGW, USF would have one scholarship avaialable right now, presuming juco guard Lasha Parghalava keeps his commitment to sign this spring, and no players leave the program after this season. As you guys are speculating, that's certainly a possibility.