MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — When he collapsed to the court early in the second half of an October 27 exhibition against George Mason, Akok Akok faced at best an uncertain playing future only nine weeks after he joined the West Virginia program.

The frightening scene that night culminated with the 6-foot-10 Akok being removed from the WVU Coliseum court on a stretcher and taken to a hospital for medical testing.

Some two months later, Akok has returned to play the last five games after missing each of the Mountaineers’ first seven contests. With starting center Jesse Edwards one week removed from suffering a fractured right wrist in a loss to Massachusetts, Akok has taken on a different and more expanded role, one he flourished in Saturday with nine points, 12 rebounds and a pair of blocks in WVU’s 91-81 win over Toledo.

“When Jesse went out, I was told to play the 5 [center]. I wouldn’t say it affected me a lot,” said Akok, considered more of a natural power forward. “I can’t play outside as much. I have to screen and roll, get guys open on the wing. It creates a lot of space on the floor when you have a guy like Kerr Kriisa coming off a screen. They have to help so much and the floor opens up. You just have to play your part at the end of the day really.”

Akok’s minutes have increased in each of his five outings to this point at WVU. 

His debut came December 6 in a loss to Pitt when Akok was scoreless in 8 minutes. Three days later, he scored five points over 12 minutes in a win against Drexel.

Since then, Akok has played between 22 and 24 minutes each of the last three games, two of which he was among the team’s starting five following Edwards’ injury.

Akok’s most productive performances are his last two games. Before his best showing to date in a WVU uniform on Saturday, Akok finished with four points, seven boards and a pair of blocks Wednesday in a one-point home loss to Radford.

Nineteen of Akok’s 24 rebounds in a WVU uniform have come over the last two games while he’s exclusively played center in Edwards’ absence.

“Once I knew what was going on, I knew I had to step up,” Akok said. “When I first came here, one of the first things coach said was you have to guard multiple positions and play 4 and the 5. When Jesse comes out of a game, slide me to the 5 so he can get his rest. I’m just living up to the expectations.

Akok has blocked eight shots over five appearances and altered many more.

At 225 pounds, he is at a weight disadvantage against most centers, putting added importance on Akok to use his length and athleticism to his advantage.

“Akok’s biggest strength is on the defensive end,” interim head coach Josh Eilert said. “He can really change shots. He can sit down and guard 1 through 5. At the end [of the Toledo game], I had no problem switching everything with him out on the floor, because he can sit down, move his feet and guard. When he gets isolated down low against larger guys, his lift is his best defense. Some of the bigger, stronger guys are going to back him down. We’ve had conversations. We just have to fight around and almost front with him. His wheelhouse is on the defensive end.”

A native of Manchester, N.H., Akok previously played three seasons at Connecticut and then one at Georgetown. While his defensive role has taken on added importance in Edwards’ absence, Akok also made his mark offensively against the Rockets.

He shot 4 for 6 and has multiple field goals in each of the last four games. Against Toledo, Akok did not attempt a three-pointer for the first time at WVU — he’s 1 for 5 from long range to this point.

He can be explosive offensively as well and he’s trying to find his place,” Eilert said. “He’s a point off having a double-double, but once he finds his momentum offensively and where he fits in, he’s going to be a huge part of this and he already is. But we look at his minutes. This is the most he’s got — almost 25 minutes. You still see some exhaustion in him and we have to try and manipulate that the best we can.”

Akok can’t disclose details of what the tests discovered after he collapsed or what he’s had to do since then to get back on the court. 

Yet West Virginia’s new starting center makes it clear he’s grateful to have returned and have the opportunity to make a major impact in his final go-around at the college level.

“We play this great game and you can’t take things for granted. Sometimes throughout my college career I took things for granted. It comes full circle,” Akok said. “You have to appreciate everything that’s given to you. That’s just the type of person I am.”

While his minutes and role have increased since his debut at WVU, Akok should remain a major piece of the Mountaineers’ plans for the foreseeable future, particularly with Edwards likely sidelined for more than half of January.