West Virginia forward Akok Akok collapsed during the Mountaineers’ 85-78 win over George Mason on Friday night and is alert and communicating, according to the school.
Akok experienced a medical emergency during the charity exhibition game, collapsing at the 15:56 mark of the second half. Medical personnel tended to him for nearly 15 minutes before he was transported to a local hospital.
Josh Eilert, the head coach of the Mountaineers, stated that Akok was stable and responsive and would be staying overnight at a local hospital for further testing.
“It’s music to my ears that he’s doing good,” Eilert said on his postgame radio show. “He’s such a good kid and a great teammate. I never thought I’d see that moment and have to deal with that. It’s heartbreaking.”
The game eventually resumed after Eilert and George Mason coach Tony Skinn spoke, and the decision to continue was left up to Eilert.
“I made sure the guys were in a good headspace, good enough headspace to continue the game,” Eilert said. “That was important, and they wanted to play, so we decided it was best to move on, try to turn the page.”
West Virginia forward Quinn Slazinski shared that Akok was texting congratulatory messages to his teammates after the game.
“Everything should be good. Just a really freak accident, we’re just happy everyone’s OK,” Slazinski said.
This is Akok’s first season at West Virginia after playing for Georgetown and UConn.
Laura Davis covers the world of basketball with precision. Her articles explore NBA and college basketball, offering game analysis, player profiles, and highlights. Laura’s passion for hoops is evident in her comprehensive basketball coverage.
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