Basketball
Rutgers women’s basketball has now landed their fourth commit of the day and first forward of the transfer portal class as JUCO forward Mary Akinde has committed to the program. He announcement came late Sunday night via her social media accounts. With Yacine Ndiaye and Janae Walker entering the portal, Akinde’s commitment helps fill a need that new head coach Gary Redus II will likely have to address again before the portal closes.
Akinde stands at 6-foot-5 and played her first year of college basketball at Barton Community College in Kansas. During her lone season with the cougars, she averaged 10.8 points and 10.5 rebounds in 30 minutes per game. During that time, she shot 43 percent from the floor and 62 percent from the line.
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Barton plays in the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference. Akinde was the only player in the conference to average a double-double and she finished the season as one of the top players in both points and rebounds per game. After the season ended, Akinda was named to the All-KJCCC Second Team for her efforts. Once she decided to transfer, Rutgers sent her an offer. She also received an offer from Eastern Illinois.
Akinde originally hails from Minne, Nigeria, but played her high school ball at Athens Christian in Georgia. She comes to Rutgers with three years of eligibility remaining but could likely push the NCAA for another year due to other cases working out in the athletes favor.
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