Akok Akok has been a Husky since January. Ten months later, he finally gets the chance to play in his first real game.

On Friday night, UConn hosts Sacred Heart at Gampel Pavilion in the Huskies' season opener for Year Two of the Dan Hurley Era.

The 6-foot-9 Akok offers the Huskies a unique twist with his ability not only to block shots, but pop out on the perimeter to knockdown 3-point shots. Even though Akok has been with the program working out since January, the freshmen from Putnam Science Academy is still a work in progress.

However, Akok has won over his coaches and teammates in a short period of time.

“The most mature part of his game is the day-to-day work ethic and passion for basketball,” Hurley said. “He doesn't cheat us or himself one day with his efforts. That's a skill, I think it's one of the top skills you can have.”

Akok, one of four heralded freshmen in Hurley’s 2019 class, has shown flashes of his talents in a secret scrimmage against Harvard and also last week’s exhibition against Division II Saint Michael’s.

Against Saint Michael’s, Akok drew the start and collected nine points with five rebounds and four blocks in almost 24 minutes.

"I think the challenge for him... he's such a talented, long, athletic, freakish kind of guy, it's just like trying to find those couple things to focus on and be an expert at,” Hurley said. “Defensively you saw his rim protect ... but you also saw him give up four threes against a guy who he shouldn't even been able to breath against."

While billed as a 3-point shooter, Akok was 0-for-2 from the perimeter in the victory, but did have some nice offensive moments.

“At the offensive end, I think he's going to make threes this year,” Hurley said. “We'll use him as a cutter and he has some ability to play in a straight line and drive, but what I think you'll see with him during the year is like a guy who's going to start off making splash plays - splash plays on offense, splash plays on defense, big-time dunks, big-time blocks - and then once we get 10, 12 games in, we're going to be playing him off the elbow, isos.

“We'll figure out what to do with him on offense but right now he should be a defensive freak for us." Hurley added.

Akok and Isaiah Whaley combined for nine of the team’s 10 blocks against Saint Michael’s. Having a pair of rim protectors along with starting center Josh Carlton is a luxury the Huskies have been missing in recent seasons.

"I'm excited to have those guys behind me," Redshirt junior point guard Alterique Gilbert said. "We play a lot of pressure defense, so if we do get beat from time to time, we know we have guys who will cover our backs."

Gilbert is not the only team leader who has been impressed by Akok in workouts. Senior guard Christian Vital sees a bright future in his young teammate as well.

"Akok, he makes up a lot of things just with his ability, his natural ability,” Vital said. “He's going to learn. One thing about Akok is he's really open to learning, he doesn't think he knows everything.

“He's willing to be coached and he's just a good person and a hard worker,” Vital added. “When you're a person like that the stuff on the court is going to come easier with experience.”

Just like Husky fans are anxious to see Akok in action, the rest of the squad can't wait to get rolling either.

"I'm glad to be healthy and excited for the season," Gilbert said. "I think we have a great team and the opportunity to do a lot of things this year."

At the top of the list is ending the Huskies string of three straight losing seasons - a goal that has brought this group closer to together.

"It was really like a whole team thing," Vital said. "We all talked to each other. We all knew where we were at, what's transpired and what better way to keep going than with each other - try to fix this with the people who were with you when it wasn't going so well and that just shows the character of everyone on the team.”

“You don't want to really run from challenges, you want to try and embrace them, so for everyone that did do it, I'm excited about every guy top to bottom on this team."