USF lands 6-foot-6 prep school star Madut Akec

USF has received an 11th-hour commitment from Madut Akec, a 6-6 wing player from Bradenton's Victory Rock Prep.

A South Sudan native, Akec is the younger brother of Louisville SF Deng Adel, the Cardinals' top scorer last season. He becomes the sixth member of second-year Bulls coach Brian Gregory's 2018 recruiting class, and will be eligible this upcoming season.

Akec averaged a team-best 19.3 points and 9.9 rebounds this past season for Victory Rock, which in March won The Grind Session, a high school "world championship" of sorts featuring elite prep schools.

"He shot 48 percent from (3-point range)," Victory Rock coach Loren Jackson said.

"He's a great catch-and-shoot kid, very athletic. He's versatile, he really rebounds the ball as a big wing. I think he'll really help (Gregory) and his staff with the class they're recruiting."

Jackson said Akec was offered by Arizona State, and had overtures from East Carolina, Illinois, Missouri and Southeast Missouri, among others. He declined to commit last fall due to an ankle injury that hampered him last summer, according to Jackson.