George Washington head coach Chris Caputo announced the signing of Auburn transfer Babatunde “Stretch” Akingbola on Monday, adding the graduate center for the 2023-24 season.
“Stretch comes to our program as someone who experienced a tremendous amount of success at Auburn,” Caputo said in a release. “He gives us a presence at the rim on both sides of the ball as a shot blocker and an offensive finisher. His infectious personality is a tremendous addition to the GW community and we look forward to him being a veteran leader for our program.”
Akingbola provides the Revolutionaries with a true “5” man, standing at 6-foot-10, 245 pounds. Born in Nigeria and affectionately known as “Stretch,” Akingbola played at McEachern High School in Powder Springs, Ga., where he earned a four-star rating from Rivals and was twice named to the All-State team.
In his four years at Auburn, Akingbola played behind three NBA draft picks, including first-round selections Walker Kessler and Jabari Smith Jr. in 2021-22. He appeared in 50 games over four years for the Tigers, averaging 1.1 ppg and 1.6 rpg in 7.2 mpg. He posted career highs of seven points and eight rebounds, along with four blocks, in 26 minutes of the 2020-21 season opener against A-10 foe Saint Joseph’s.
Most of his career action came in 2020-21, when he scored 51 points and tallied 69 rebounds while shooting 48% from the floor in 11 minutes per game over 27 appearances. A noted rim-protector, Akingbola swatted 25 shots and corraled nine steals that season.
Akingbola will become the fourth international player on this year’s roster, joining Keegan Harvey (Australia), Benny Schröder (Germany) and Zamoku Weluche-Ume (England).
Stretch is the fifth addition to the program from the transfer portal this offseason, joining Darren Buchanan Jr. (Virginia Tech), Garrett Johnson (Princeton), Schröder (Oklahoma) and Antoine Smith Jr. (Evansville).’
Release provided via GW Department of Athletics
Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter
Follow ZAGSBLOGHoops on Instagram
And Like ZAGS on Facebook
