By R.L. Bynum
After a breakout junior season at Oklahoma State, forward Achol Akot committed to North Carolina on Friday during a visit to Chapel Hill.
Akot, who played her first two seasons at UCF, announced the decision on her Instagram account late Friday night. The versatile 6–1 forward, called “A2” by her Oklahoma State teammates, is the Tar Heels’ first transfer-portal commitment of the offseason and will help fill the void left by the loss of senior forward Nyla Harris.
The Ottawa, Ontario, native gives Coach Courtney Banghart an experienced frontcourt player who has already shown she can produce in March. Akot, whose name is pronounced “Ah-chol Ah-cot,” career-best 63.3% shooting from the floor last season was sixth in the country.
Akot was the first of two transfer portal commitments over the weekend. On Saturday, former Syracuse guard Sophie Burrows committed to the Tar Heels.
Oklahoma State went 24–10 and reached the second round of the NCAA tournament. Akot collected a career-high 28 points with 10 rebounds in the Cowgirls’ 82–68 first-round win over Princeton and then added 23 points in an 87–68 loss to eventual national champion UCLA in the second round.
Akot, who turns 22 on July 30 and earned All-Big 12 honorable mention, started all 34 games for Oklahoma State last season, averaging career-highs of 12.4 points and 7.2 rebounds. She posted 11 double-doubles and pulled down double-figure rebounds in 20 games.
Akot, who averaged 1.4 steals and nearly a block a game, is known for her length and versatility and will bring dependable, physical play inside and make an impact in the paint.
After Akot scored 18 points in a 70–56 victory over Kansas on Feb. 28 with a dominant interior performance, including 12 third-quarter points, Jayhawks coach Brandon Schneider said, “She filleted us.”
Oklahoma State coach Jacie Hoyt, after that win over Kansas, showered praise on Akot.
“I think that she’s arguably the most underrated player on our team,” Hoyt said. “I don’t think she gets as much credit as she should. I think that a lot of people can be critical of our team because they say that we don’t have a true post.”
In an 88–77 victory on Feb. 25 at Iowa State, Akot scored 25 points and pulled down 10 rebounds while holding star Audi Crooks to 19 points — 6.8 points under her average.
“What she did at Iowa State was special. What she did [against Kansas] was special. There was no answer for her,” Hoyt said.
Hoyt said after the UCLA game that Akot can guard virtually any position.
“It’s been really neat to watch her kind of figure out how to use that versatility,” Hoyt said. “The way that she’s just taken that in stride and found ways to improve every game has been really special to coach. I think she’s just figuring it out. I think her best basketball is still ahead of her.”
During the NCAA tournament media availability, Oklahoma State teammate Stailee Heard had high praise for Akot.
“I’ve played with a lot of big post players. A2 is a really, really good solid — most people would say she’s an undersized 5,” Heard said. “She’s just mobile. She’s active. She’s one of the best finishers I play with. She has good hands. I feel like she’s just been a really good presence for us on the court, on and off the court.”
In two seasons at UCF, she started 36 games, averaging 5.9 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.
Akot’s background includes international experience, representing Canada at the 2025 FIBA 3×3 event in Vienna, Austria. She was part of the Canadian team that finished third in the 2023 U19 World Cup.
Akot was honored in November as a Kay Yow Servant Leader.
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(UNC is one below the 15-player limit)
| Year | No. | Players | Pos. | Height | |
| Freshman | 11 | Kate Harpring | PG | 5–10 | |
| Freshman | 52 | Noelle Bofia | F | 6–4 | |
| Sophomore | 3 | Gabby White — W | G | 5–10 | |
| Sophomore | 7 | Nyla Brooks | W | 6–1 | |
| Sophomore | 26 | Taissa Queiroz | G | 6–1 | |
| Junior | 34 | Blanca Thomas | C | 6–5 | |
| Junior | 1 | Jordan Zubich | G | 5–11 | |
| RS junior | 21 | Ciera Toomey | F | 6–4 | |
| RS junior | 4 | Laila Hull | W | 6–1 | |
| Senior | 5 | Sophie Burrows — X | G | 6–2 | |
| Senior | 8 | Achol Akot — Y | F | 6–1 | |
| Senior | 10 | Reniya Kelly | G | 5–7 | |
| Senior | 15 | Sydney Barker | G | 5–6 | |
| Graduate | 13 | Chloe Clardy — Z | G | 5–9 |
W — Virginia transfer; X — Syracuse transfer; Y — Oklahoma State transfer; Z — Stanford transfer
Former players who entered transfer portal
| Player | Class next season | Pos. | Hgt | Next school |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elina Aarnisalo | Junior | G | 5–10 | UCLA |
| Lanie Grant | Junior | G | 5–9 | TCU |
| Taliyah Henderson | Sophomore | W | 6–1 | Clemson |
| Liza Astakhova | Sophomore | G | 6–2 | BYU |
Top photo via okstate.com; middle photo via Instagram; bottom photo courtesy of FIBA
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