MCC’s Simon Akena signs on to play basketball at D1 Utah Valley

McCook Community College sophomore Simon Akena signed his letter of intent Tuesday to continue his college basketball next season at NCAA Division 1 Utah Valley, in Orem, Utah.

Akena, a 6-6 wing from Stockholm, Sweden, played just one season for MCC after transferring from Three Rivers College in Poplar Bluff, Mo. He said he picked Utah Valley for some of the same key reasons he decided to come to McCook.

"The coaching staff there really stood out, and like here the coaches really care about the players not only about their basketball careers but their lives as well," Akena said.

The Utah Valley Wolverines compete in the Western Athletic Conference and had a 28-9 mark overall and 15-3 in the WAC and went on to the semi-finals of the National Invitational Tournament.

"Utah Valley is getting not only a dynamic player on the offensive end but a guy that can really guard multiple spots with his length and his athleticism," said MCC Coach Jacob Brandl. "It's not always about the level our players sign, but it's always sweeter when they go to the highest level possible and to a great program like Utah Valley. Our our goal is always to get these guys moving on to a good situation where they can grow as basketball players but also as students."

Akena was named first-team all-Region IX as well as first team all-Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference.

He led MCC in scoring this season, averaging 15.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.1 assists. He started all 31 games and scored in double-figures 26 times with his season high coming Feb. 25 at Trinidad State when he put in 30 points.

For the season, he scored 493 points, had 176 rebounds, 33 assists, 32 steals and nine blocked shots. He shot 46.1 percent from the field, 30.3 percent from the 3-point line and 76.7 percent from the free-throw line.

"In addition to all the impressive offensive numbers he had, at the end of the season what he was doing for us defensively was huge," Brandl said. "We just asked a lot out of Simon, and he embraced that challenge. Towards the end of the season every game he wanted to matchup with the opponent's best offensive player."

What will Akena miss most about Coach Brandl?

"I will miss his charisma, and how energizes. He is just an incredible motivator… in the locker room at half time or before a game, and we take our cues from him and we see how much he wants to win and it makes us want to fight for him," Akena said.

Off the court Akena was named to the President's List for the fall semester.

"Simon is the definition of a student-athlete. He was a 3.9+ grade-point average his first semester here and he's going to be at that level again this semester," said Brandl. "We're just really happy for Simon and we're going to miss him as a player, a student, a leader and as a person."