Akoon-Purcell Inks Redbird Basketball NLI

[April 22, 2014]  NORMAL — Junior college transfer guard DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell will continue his education and basketball career at Illinois State, head basketball coach Dan Muller announced Thursday. Akoon-Purcell signed his national letter of intent and will have two years of eligibility remaining, after transferring from Eastern Oklahoma State College in Wilburton, Okla.

"DeVaughn is a 6-foot-5 guard who is extremely long and athletic," Muller said. "He is a talented scorer, and his ability to create for himself and his teammates on the offensive end will add another dimension to our team. The sky is the limit for DeVaughn."

A National Junior College Athletic Association Division I All-America Honorable Mention selection, Akoon-Purcell led Eastern Oklahoma State and ranked No. 17 nationally with 20.9 points per game as a sophomore in 2013-14. The Orlando, Fla., native shot a team-best 55.5 percent from the field at 201-for-362, while also shooting 40.6 percent from beyond the arc with 28-for-69 and 73.8 percent at the free-throw line with 135-for-183.

Along with his scoring prowess, Akoon-Purcell averaged 5.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.8 steals during his sophomore season. He also amassed a 2.1 assist-to-turnover ratio, while helping Eastern Oklahoma State to a 21-10 overall record during 25 starts in 27 overall appearances.

Akoon-Purcell netted double figures 25 times, scoring 20 points or more on 16 occasions and 30 or more points three times. He scored a career-best 40 points in a 70 percent effort with 14-for-20 during Eastern Oklahoma State's 133-77 win at Hillsdale Baptist College on Nov. 12.

For his consistent contributions, Akoon-Purcell was named to the 2013-14 All-Region II Team and the All-Oklahoma Collegiate Athletic Conference First Team. He led Region II in made field goals, while ranking second in points per game and third in total points.

Akoon-Purcell signed with Eastern Oklahoma State after attending West Oaks Academy in Orlando, Fla. As a senior, he was named to the Florida Association of Basketball Coaches 2012 All-State Boys Basketball Team.

[Text from news release received from Illinois State University]