Tag: Theo Akwuba

Iowa Hawkeyes strike out on Louisiana transfer big Theo Akwuba

Louisiana transfer Theo Akwuba announced his decision to join Ole Miss, spurning a chance to join the Iowa Hawkeyes.

For the second time this offseason, a transfer big that Iowa was linked to late in the process chose to play basketball elsewhere. First, it was Utah Valley center Fardaws Aimaq that had the Hawkeyes in his final top five.

The 6-foot-11 center averaged 18.9 points, 13.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.3 blocks per game last season with Utah Valley. He also connected on 49% of his field goal tries and 43.5% of his 3-point tries, but Aimaq announced that he was heading to Texas Tech to play for the Red Raiders and head coach Mark Adams.

Now, it’s Louisiana big Theo Akwuba that has chosen to join Ole Miss instead of the Hawkeyes after having Iowa in his final two. Akwuba averaged 9.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game this past season at Louisiana. The renowned shot blocker would have been a welcome addition alongside Josh Ogundele, Patrick McCaffery, Riley Mulvey and Filip Rebraca and perhaps Kris Murray if he elects to return to Iowa City.

Instead, Iowa appears to have what it already has on its roster unless there’s a different transfer portal addition on the horizon. 247Sports’ Kevin Flaherty had Iowa ranked No. 16 in his initial way-too-early top 23 for 2023 but that will likely hinge on whether or not Murray does indeed return.

According to 247Sports, the Hawkeyes signed a pair of three-star guards in the 2022 signing class in point guard Dasonte Bowen out of Brewster Academy in New Hampshire and shooting guard Josh Dix from Abraham Lincoln High School in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

247Sports, On3 and Rivals all rank Bowen as a three-star point guard. Rivals rated Bowen as the No. 145 player nationally and the No. 37 point guard, while 247Sports ranked Bowen as the No. 148 player nationally, the No. 23 point guard and the second-ranked player from Massachusetts.

Dix is a consensus three-star recruit. 247Sports listed Dix as the No. 145 player nationally, the No. 20 shooting guard and the top player from Iowa. Rivals ranked Dix as the No. 148 player overall and the No. 38 shooting guard. ESPN rated Dix as the No. 56 shooting guard and the No. 3 player from Iowa.

The announced returns of Ogundele and Connor McCaffery should bolster Iowa as well.

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Iowa Hawkeyes among final two for former Louisiana forward Theo Akwuba

Alongside Ole Miss, Iowa is one of the final two potential destinations for Louisiana transfer forward Theo Akwuba.

Iowa could have another addition to its men’s basketball program tomorrow. Former Louisiana forward Theo Akwuba is down to his final two potential transfer destinations. The 6-foot-11, 225 pound forward will choose between Iowa and Ole Miss.

A native of Montgomery, Ala., Akwuba played his first two seasons at Portland before transferring to Louisiana for each of the past two years. In his true freshman season at Portland, Akwuba started 26 of the 30 games he appeared in and he averaged 3.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. His 46 total blocked shots during the 2018-19 season ranked seventh in Portland single-season history and he finished ranked second in the West Coast Conference in blocks that season.

Then, in 2019-20, Akwuba saw his minutes dip from 17.0 minutes per game to 12.7. He didn’t start in any of the 22 games he played for Portland that season. Akwuba averaged 4.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per game in his second season with the Pilots.

Looking for a fresh start, Akwuba transferred to Louisiana and established himself as one of the Sun Belt Conference’s best big men. During the 2020-21 season, Akwuba averaged 11.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game and shot 63.5% from the floor. He had a career-high 68 blocks that season en route to being named the Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year. His 68 blocks ranked eighth nationally and his 3.77 offensive rebounds per game ranked 10th nationally.

After averaging 9.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game this past season, Akwuba is looking to close his career at a power-five program. His 2.0 blocks per game tied for second in the Sun Belt and his 7.9 rebounds ranked fourth in the conference.

Akwuba’s presence would fit in nicely alongside Iowa’s group of bigs that includes Josh Ogundele, Patrick McCaffery, Riley Mulvey and Filip Rebraca. Kris Murray would be a part of that group as well if he chooses to return to Iowa City after entering his name into the 2022 NBA draft but electing to not sign with an agent.