USF releases freshman Akol from scholarship

USF announced Friday that the school has released incoming 6-foot-11 freshman power forward Teeng Akol from his scholarship, an unexpected development just a month before the start of fall classes.

"It is really hard for us to lose Teeng. He is a great kid," coach Stan Heath said in a statement. "We love him and we were developing a great relationship. Unfortunately, USF was not the right fit for him. We will do everything to we can to make sure he ends up at the right institution and we wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors."

According to the university registrar's office, Akol was enrolled in summer classes, taking two credit-hours of classes, but dropped the class Wednesday, with two weeks remaining in the six-week term.

The statement also included a quote from Akol: "Coach Heath and I will remain friends for a long time. We had a strong relationship throughout my recruitment and he will remain a good friend. The players welcomed me in and we were developing a relationship quickly. I expect them to do big things this year, unfortunately USF was not the right fit for me and I have to move on."

Akol's advisor, Fatah Muraisi, said Friday that his decision was "not about not liking USF" and not related to basketball. Akol had been provisionally accepted into USF and allowed to enroll in summer classes with his teammates, but was told this week that he would not be accepted into the university. Muraisi said Akol "just wanted to go in another direction," but it appears he did not have a choice.

"It's something personal," Muraisi said. "I know he struggled with his decision. He loved the guys, loved the coaches."

Because Akol was not admitted to USF, it appears he will be able to sign elsewhere and play this season despite taking classes at USF. Typically, an athlete would have to have a year in residence at a new school before being eligible to play. Muraisi listed several schools as options for Akol, including Missouri, Fresno State and UNLV; he also mentioned West Virginia, but Big East policy does not allow basketball players to transfer from one member school to another. It's unclear whether Akol falls under that policy, given his set of circumstances.

"I'm not going to block any school. I'd hate to play against him, but I want what's best for him," Heath said. "It's a huge loss. You don't find 6-10 kids who can run and shoot just sitting around at the park. Somebody will have to step up for us."

Akol did not return messages seeking comment. Power forward was a problem for USF last season and a priority for Heath in recruiting; the Bulls have freshmen Eladio Espinosa and Gene Teague, as well as senior Aris Williams, who has been limited by injuries in his two seasons at USF. Akol's departure puts even greater significance on the hardship waiver USF is seeking that would allow Maryland transfer Gus Gilchrist, a highly touted forward/center, to play for the Bulls this season.

Akol, a 6-foot-11 recruit from Sudan who attended IMG Academy in Bradenton, is the second recruit Heath has lost from his incoming class, once eight players strong. Point guard Dwan McMillan did not meet the NCAA minimum admission requirements and will not be enrolled at USF this fall.

Comments

[Reality]

I wouldn't really call it happy, I would just call it Reality.

Akol did not belong in college at this point. I am guessing his two credit class may have made that clear.

Usf needs to start recruiting kids that fly under the radar that are good people first. Stop taking transfers and character question marks.

The kid out of north port is the kind of kid USF should be all over!

That is the first signing in awhile that makes alot of sense, let's hope noriega signs come November.

Mike Morrison, Dago Pena, and Luke Loucks are all guys that Stan should have been all over.

Even if they don't pan out, you have to get the local kids that are decent.

0-19 is going to be hard to do, but this team is shaping up as having a really good chance to pull it off!

[yomomeer]

Corleone,

You are not qualified to even carry Bob Huggins jock.....

[Steve]

Corleone,

Yea,because Bob Huggins has SO MUCH pull with the USF admissions board.

[DJ]

USF gave this kid a chance since he did pass the SAT, but he was not going to pass his summer school class. He was so far off in the class that it showed he could not do college work at this time. If he attended in the fall, he would not have passed any classes. What a tough break.

Well, if we don't get Gilchrist, 0-19 could be a reality. I hope not but dang, Teague & Rivas? Mr. Reality, are you happy?

[Don Corleone]

I sense that Bob Huggins has something to do with this since you mentioned WVU. Let’s not forget his stellar record at Cincy. He won’t let any thing like academics or DUI’s stand in his way.

"The story in the trib says he wasn't qualified academically. The new academic review board turned him down. Seems like they would have made that decision before letting him enroll in classes. Good luck to him." steve oneal

"I still fully support the academic review board, however. If Akol was such an academic risk, then it would be a sham to allow him to be a student." Dave W

You don't have to be admitted to the university to take classes, but you must be admitted to play sports.

[Ari Hinkelberger]

I think its pretty funny that USF is turning kids away because of academics. Its not like we are the Harvard of Hillsborough. I'm proud to be an alum, but it really doesn't bother me if a 6-11 kid from Africa gets let in to USF on a sports scholarship, but wouldn't have qualifed for admission any other way.

I mean give me a break. The kid is her to play basketball. Lets stop fooling ourselves. Get the kid a uniform and lets move on.

Put the guy in the Criminology program. Its cake. Even Herman got through

[Reality]

0-19, baby!!!

It still amazes me he was able to pass the ACT or the SAT. IMG is a superior prep school, that is the only thing I learned from this whole saga.

Now Stan has a built in excuse for the year from all of the Green and Gold colored glasses people.

[Chalko]

I'm pretty sure he realized USF was a joke and peaced out!

[Dave W]

Wow, there goes the season! He would have paired nicely with Gilchrist and was absolutely necessary for any major improvements.

I still fully support the academic review board, however. If Akol was such an academic risk, then it would be a sham to allow him to be a student.

[paul wall]

I think university experience is 2 credits... not sure never had to take it

[Ken]

I don't think we know much about this yet, but it is a loss, no doubt about it.

[steve oneal]

The story in the trib says he wasn't qualified academically. The new academic review board turned him down. Seems like they would have made that decision before letting him enroll in classes. Good luck to him.

[Josh]

If Gilchrist is not granted a hardship our season will be simply awful! That is really disappointing. Hopefully USF's luck will continue with the hardships though.

[BULL DALY]

It will be interesting to see where he ends up. Something seems not right on this news. Was it another school stealing him away?? Time will tell.

[A.T.]

Wow, thats really weird. Two credits is only one class, but Summer B is pretty intense(its doing a class in only 6 weeks for the non-students on here). And he had been living in this area, so it wasnt like he was in a totally new area either. Oh well, we still have alot of new talent coming in this season.

[cg]

hmm