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Transfers make Akron basketball 'a very strong program in the MAC' ahead of NCAA Tournament
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- Transfers make Akron basketball 'a very strong program in the MAC' ahead of NCAA Tournament
Isaiah Gray, Bowen Hardman, James Okonkwo and Seth Wilson have traveled interesting paths to being teammates on the University of Akron men's basketball team .
Gray and Hardman were on opposing teams just over a year ago in an NIT game in Columbus, with Gray in Cornell's starting lineup and Hardman playing as an Ohio State reserve.
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Okonkwo and Wilson were together on a West Virginia team two years ago that met Maryland in the NCAA tournament in Birmingham, Alabama.
And today they will be in uniform for Akron (28-6), the No. 13 seed in the East Region in the NCAA Tournament.
Gray, Okonkwo and Wilson are senior starters and Hardman is a junior reserve on an Akron team that won the Mid-American Conference Tournament in Cleveland last week to advance to meet No. 4 seed Arizona (22-12) at 7:30 p.m. at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle .
"This is a very strong program in the MAC," Wilson said Sunday of Akron . "A lot of winning and a lot of culture here. So, for us to be on the biggest stage and being in March Madness, and representing the conference and representing the city and the school, it's a huge deal."
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The transfers helped Akron defeat Bowling Green , Toledo and Miami in the MAC Tournament to go 20-1 against MAC foes and reach a program-record 28 wins. A win over Arizona would give Akron its first victory in the NCAA Division I Tournament.
Akron's Seth Wilson puts up a 3-point shot as Toledo's Javan Simmons defends on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, in Akron.
"They have been impactful and add a lot of value," Akron coach John Groce said. "It has been fun watching these guys evolve."
Gray , who is 6-foot-3, is a scrappy defender who can score at the rim and from the perimeter. The 6-3 Hardman and 6-2 Wilson are valuable 3-point shooters. Okonkwo is a 6-8 athletic post player.
Gray scored a game-high 19 points in the NIT game against Ohio State on March 19, 2024, but the Buckeyes won 88-83 with Hardman making a 3-pointer.
Akron Zips guard Nate Johnson (34) and guard Isaiah Gray (13) celebrate after beating Miami to win the Mid-American Conference Tournament championship at Rocket Arena on Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio.
Gray has started all 34 games this season and is averaging 9.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.1 steals in 24.4 minutes.
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"It has been awesome," Gray said Sunday of his time at Akron . "We knew at the beginning during the preseason that we had a chance to do something special. I think it was kind of hard to figure out how it was going to go, but we trusted the system, trusted our teammates and our coaches and we are happy to be here right now.
"Having been a No. 1 seed, I think we had a target on our back at the end of the regular season and the MAC Tournament. We had to be resilient, and we got everyone's best shot."
Akron Zips guard Isaiah Gray (13) walks out onto the court during pregame announcements before the Mid-American Conference Tournament championship game at Rocket Arena on Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio.
Okonkwo has started in 27 of the 34 games he has played in this season and is averaging 7.0 points and 7.3 rebounds in 18.1 minutes.
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"It starts with effective leadership," said Okonkwo, who played in the NCAA tournament with North Carolina last season. "I think John Groce has done an amazing job of setting a precedent and making sure that we are discipline enough to stay within that precedent. The veterans are making sure that we stay within ourselves, and obviously it has worked. We have two championships in one season , so that is pretty cool.
".... This season has been so much fun. I am so thankful to the coaching staff for giving me this opportunity to go out and be myself and bring the energy that is unique and bring hustle plays. I love doing that. I can't thank coach enough for the role he has given me. I will forever be in debt to him for that."
Wilson started 21 of the 33 games in which he has played this season and is averaging 6.3 points and 1.9 rebounds in 18.7 minutes. He played high school basketball for two years apiece at St. Vincent-St. Mary and Lorain.
Akron’s Bowen Hardman puts up a 3-pointer as Bowling Green’s Jamal Felt defends in a Mid-American Conference quarterfinal March 13, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio.
Hardman has appeared in all 34 games with three starts and is averaging 6.7 points in 15.4 minutes.
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"I love all the guys at Ohio State that I played with, but coming here I actually played against some guys in high school, like Nate Johnson and Eric Mahaffey," Hardman said. "It kind of felt like a second home, and now it is my home. That transition has been awesome. Coach Groce, coach [Dustin] Ford, the whole staff has been amazing. Everything happens for a reason. My time at Ohio State was awesome, but here I have a lot more opportunities that I am very grateful for."
Akron actually has a fifth transfer in 6-7 junior Josiah Harris, who is out with an injury after playing in six games (all starts) and averaging 8.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 23.5 minutes. Harris played two seasons at West Virginia after playing a season of high school basketball at GlenOak and three seasons at Richmond Heights.
Akron Zips forward James Okonkwo (32) slams the ball down for two points during the Mid-American Conference Tournament championship game March 15, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio.
"Just to see all these guys take in the culture and come out to be better people and better players, it shows a lot about the Akron culture," said Zips 6-3 redshirt junior Nate Johnson, the MAC Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Tournament MVP . "The new guys and freshman Sharron Young bought into the culture and their games are thriving."
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Nate Johnson , 6-0 junior Tavari Johnson , 6-7 junior Amani Lyles and 6-2 seniors Shammah Scott and Evan Wilson were Akron's returnees when the season started.
Gray, Hardman, Okonkwo, Seth Wilson, Young and 6-6 redshirt freshman Marvin Musiime-Kamali have worked their ways into important roles.
Akron Zips guard Isaiah Gray (13) guards against Kent State Golden Flashes guard Jalen Sullinger (13) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Kent, Ohio.
"It has been extremely helpful having the returning players from last season," Gray said. "Being an older guy coming to this program, it was definitely hard. I knew that there were some leadership things that I wanted to be able to have a part on this team.
"It is not always easy with this being my first season here, but those returning guys did a really good job emphasizing the culture and did a really good job of demonstrating the right way to act and the right way to go about things. I think slowly but surely throughout the season, we have all gone on the same path in terms of the way we approach things and handle things. They have been extremely helpful and I am extremely grateful for them."
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Okonkwo said he "didn't take another visit" after touring Akron.
Akron Zips forward James Okonkwo (32) hangs on the rim after a dunk during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinals of the Mid-American Conference Tournament at Rocket Arena on Friday, March 14, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio.
"This was my only visit, and I saw what I needed to see," Okonkwo said. "Groce gave me the blueprint, and I try my best to do it. It has worked out pretty well."
Per a change in NCAA rules, Okonkwo has one year of eligibility left and said, "I plan on staying here for as long as I possibly can. I love it here. I have no reason to leave. The coaching staff here, the atmosphere, it is everything you could want in a place. I am so thankful I came to Akron."
Michael Beaven can be reached by email at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.com .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Impact transfers help Akron men's basketball reach NCAA Tournament
