West Virginia forward Akok Akok collapses during preseason game and is rushed to hospital… but Mountaineers coach said he is awake and in stable condition
- The fifth-year senior collapsed early in the second and was unable to stand afterward
- Akok was taken to Ruby Memorial Hospital as the Mountaineers won 85-78
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In a frightening scene during a preseason college basketball game, West Virginia forward Akok Akok collapsed and was eventually rushed to the hospital, but is believed to be in stable condition.
Akok, in his first season since transferring to WVU, went down early in the second half, causing immediate silence among the Morgantown crowd.
Unable to get up, Akok was cared for by WVU medical staff for nearly 15 minutes before being carried into an ambulance and taken to Ruby Memorial Hospital, according to Schuyler Callihan of Mountain climbers now.
West Virginia interim head coach Josh Eilert provided an update on Akok’s condition on his radio show after his team secured the 85-78 victory.
“I just got a letter from our medical staff,” Eilert said. ‘He’s stable. He’s talking. He’s in a good place. He wanted to wish the boys well and congratulate them. He’s in a good place. But they’re going to monitor him overnight and do a lot of tests overnight to find out what’s going on. That’s all I have.’
Akok Akok began his collegiate career at Georgetown University before transferring to UConn
Akok started 31 games for the Hoyas and averaged 6.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per game
‘It’s music to my ears that he is doing well. He’s such a good kid and a great teammate. I never thought I would experience that moment and have to deal with that. It’s heartbreaking,” Eilert added.
Eilert also mentioned how George Mason head coach Tony Skinn let him decide if they should restart the game after Akok collapsed.
“I made sure the guys had good headroom, enough headroom to continue the game,” Eilert said. “That was important and they wanted to play, so we decided it was best to move on and turn the page.”
Born in Egypt and raised in Manchester, New Hampshire, Akok’s collegiate career began at Georgetown before transferring to UConn and then West Virginia. The 6-foot-4 forward started 31 games for the Hoyas and averaged 6.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.
“Akok, everything is fine,” teammate Quinn Slazinski told reporters. ‘He was admitted overnight and we are very proud that he is staying with us. Everything should be fine. Really freak accident
Proceeds from the exhibition match will go to West Virginia University Medicine Children’s Hospital.