UConn's Akok out for season after rupturing Achilles
An MRI confirmed that UConn forward Akok Akok suffered a complete rupture of his left Achilles during Sunday's game against Memphis and will miss the remainder of the 2019-20 campaign, the school announced Monday, according to The Athletic's Charlotte Carroll.
The freshman's surgery will be scheduled within the next day or two.
Akok was injured less than a minute into the Huskies' 64-61 win over the Tigers. The 20-year-old fell awkwardly after blocking a shot attempt from Memphis star Precious Achiuwa.
Akok remained on the floor for several moments and needed to be assisted off the court. He later returned to the sidelines on crutches with a walking boot on his left foot.
Akok Akok coming back out to be on the bench with his teammates. pic.twitter.com/84NA6wDJ5V
— Mike Anthony (@ManthonyCourant) February 16, 2020
Head coach Dan Hurley was emotional postgame as he talked about Akok.
"It was a big win, but there's no joy in it when something like that happens in the first minute," Hurley said postgame, according to ESPN. "Sports is brutal sometimes. Life is brutal sometimes."
Bittersweet Day in Hartford for all of Husky Nation...Beyond proud of the Courage our Team displayed but heart broken for @akokrakok🙏..I do know this...he will be back and better than ever because he is a special guy with uncommon work ethic and an entire state behind him ! ⛰💙
— Dan Hurley (@dhurley15) February 17, 2020
Akok was UConn's top-rated recruit and the 63rd overall prospect on the ESPN 100 for 2019. He leads all players in the AAC with 2.6 blocks per contest.