Akol removed from WKU roster
February 26, 2013
WKU will be down one senior in the upcoming Sun Belt Conference Tournament.
Senior center Teeng Akol has been removed from the WKU roster, coach Ray Harper announced Tuesday. He will not play in WKU’s final two games of the season.
Akol had missed two games this season, including Saturday’s road win over Louisiana-Lafayette, due to academic issues.
“I just think at this time, the most important thing for Teeng is to focus on the academic side of it” Harper said Tuesday. “We’re still going to be there for him and support him every step of the way, I just think it’s what’s best for him and this basketball team at this time.”
Akol arrived at WKU during the 2009-10 season after transferring from Oklahoma State. The South Sudan native started in 16 games and averaged 6.7 points and 3.8 rebounds per game this season.
The move leaves freshman Aleksejs Rostov as the only center currently on the WKU roster. Rostov started at center for the Toppers in their last two games and currently averages 4.4 points and 2.4 rebounds per game.
Rostov said he learned a lot from Akol this season and it’s unfortunate that he is no longer on the roster but he’s not worried about taking on more playing time.
“I really don’t feel any more pressure with Teeng being out,” Rostov said. “We’ve still got four other big guys and I know they’ve got my back if I’m getting tired or struggling.”
WKU (15-14, 9-9 Sun Belt Conference) will play its final two games of the regular season this week. The Toppers will take on South Alabama Thursday at 7 p.m. and Middle Tennessee Saturday at 5:30 p.m. Both games will be at Diddle Arena.
