NORMAL, Ill. - 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 (NLI) 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 (NJCAA) 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 201-for-362 (55.5 percent) from the field, while also shooting 28-for-69 (40.6 percent) from beyond the arc and 135-for-183 (73.8 percent) at the free throw line.
Along with his scoring prowess, Akoon-Purcell averaged 5.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.8 steals during his sophomore season. Akoon-Purcell 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 14-for-20 (70 percent) effort during Eastern Oklahoma State's 133-77 win at Hillsdale Baptist College (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 FABC (Florida Association of Basketball Coaches) 2012 All-State Boys Basketball Team.
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