The University of Akron men's basketball team added five players to its roster for the 2024-25 season through the NCAA transfer portal on Tuesday, including two with ties to Northeast Ohio.
New additions to the Zips include Isaiah Gray (Brooklyn, N.Y.), Bowen Hardman (Cincinnati), Josiah Harris (Canton), James Okonkwo (Maidenhead, England) and Seth Wilson (Lorraine). .
“What excites me most about this group is that everyone is committed to winning and has been an excellent student and teammate throughout their collegiate career,” Akron coach John Groce said in a statement released by the UA. ” he said. “We strive to acquire talented players with high character and college experience, and we believe we have achieved that goal.”
Gray is a 6-foot-3 guard who played the past three seasons at Cornell University. In the 2023-24 season, they ranked second in the Ivy League with a field goal percentage of 60.2%, ninth in the Ivy League in assists, sixth in assist-to-turnover ratio, and fourth in steals. He averaged 9.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.4 steals.
Gray was named first team All-League and third team All-New England at Cushing Academy.
“Isaiah is an experienced playmaker who is very competitive,” Groce said. “He's a two-way guard who impacts wins at a high level on both ends of the floor.”
Hardman is a 6-3 guard who played the past two seasons at Ohio State. In 2023-24, he averaged 4.2 points and shot 45.8% from the field and 45.0% from 3-point range.
According to 247sports.com, Hardman was a three-star recruit out of Princeton High School.
“Bowen is an elite-level shooter and will make everyone's job easier offensively,” Gross said. “He has great range and a very quick release.”
Harris, a 6-7 forward, played the past two seasons at West Virginia, starting 13 games for the Mountaineers last season and appearing in all 32 games. He averaged 5.0 points and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 81.0% from the free throw line.
Harris is a graduate of Richmond Heights High School, where he won the Division IV state championship in 2022. Richmond He played at Glen Oak High School before Heights.
“Josiah provides the size and length to help him score at all three levels and rebound at an elite level,” Gross said. “He has the ability to stretch the floor with his shot-making and can also attack off the bounds.”
Okonkwo, a 6-8 forward, played last season at North Carolina after playing the past two seasons at West Virginia. In his final season at West Virginia (2022-23), he appeared in 31 games, averaging 10.9 minutes, and led the Mountaineers in blocks (22) and second in field goal percentage (57.4%). became.
“James has the potential to make an immediate impact in our frontcourt with his rebounding, rim protection and ability to score the basketball,” Gross said. “He plays with a high athleticism and brings a level of toughness that elevates those around him.”
Wilson, a 6-2 guard, joins after playing the past three seasons at West Virginia. He played in 28 games last season, averaging 17.1 minutes, 3.5 points, 1.7 rebounds and 0.9 assists. He shot 37.9 percent from beyond the 3-point arc.
Wilson played his freshman and sophomore seasons at St. Vincent and Saint Louis University before playing his junior and senior years at Loran High School. Mary. Wilson helped STVM win the Division II state championship in 2018. Wilson had the second-most points by a freshman in STVM history behind LeBron James.
“Seth is a competitor and has the ability to hit and catch tough shots off the bounce,” Gross said. “He's a strong, physical guard, so he'll be a great defender.”
Michael Beaven can be reached by email at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.com. You can also reach me on Twitter @MBeavenABJ..