West Virginia forward Akok Akok COLLAPSES during preseason game and is rushed to the hospital… but Mountaineers coach said he is is awake and in stable condition

In a frightening scene during a preseason college basketball game, West Virginia forward Akok Akok collapsed and was ultimately 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, bringing an immediate silence to the crowd in Morgantown. 

Unable to get up, Akok was tended to by WVU medical staff for nearly fifteen minutes before getting stretchered into an ambulance and taken to Ruby Memorial Hospital, per Schuyler Callihan of Mountaineers 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 win. 

‘I just got briefed with our medical staff,’ Eilert said. ‘He’s stable. He’s talking. He’s in a good place. He wanted to wish the guys well and congratulate them. He’s in a good place. But they’re going to monitor him overnight and do a lot of testing overnight to figure out what’s going on. That’s all I’ve got.’

Akok started in 31 games for the Hoyas and averaged 6.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per game 

‘It’s music to my ears that he’s doing good. 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,’ Eilert added. 

Eilert also mentioned how George Mason head coach Tony Skinn allowed him to decide if they should resume the game after Akok collapsed. 

‘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’ 

Born in Egypt and raised in Manchester, New Hampshire, Akok’s collegiate career began in Georgetown before transferring to UConn then West Virginia. The 6-foot-10 forward started in 31 games for the Hoyas and averaged 6.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. 

‘Akok, all is well,’ teammate Quinn Slazinski told reporters. ‘He’s admitted overnight and we’re super proud with him sticking with us. Everything should be good. Really freak accident’

Proceeds from the exhibition game will go towards West Virginia University Medicine Children’s Hospital.