Akoon-Purcell signs with pro team in Denmark

Posted on August 18, 2016

By ISU Sports Information

AARHUS, Denmark – Former Illinois State men’s basketball guard DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell has signed a contract to play professionally in Denmark for the Bakken Bears, a team that competes in the Danish League and FIBA Europe Cup.

Located in Aarhus, Denmark, the Bakken Bears play at the 1,950-seat Vejlby-Risskov Hallen. Formed in 1953, the Bakken Bears have finished near the top of the league almost every year and have won 14 Danish Championships and 10 Danish Cups.

As a senior at Illinois State during the 2015-16 season, Akoon-Purcell earned All-Missouri Valley Conference Second Team and NABC Division I District 16 Second Team accolades. The Orlando, Florida, native led ISU in scoring and ranked eighth in the MVC (14.1 points per game). Akoon-Purcell also ranked second on the team in rebounding and 12th in the MVC (4.9 rebounds per game).

Akoon-Purcell transferred to Illinois State for the 2014-15 season after beginning his collegiate career at Eastern Oklahoma State College. As a junior at ISU, Akoon-Purcell led the Redbirds and ranked sixth in the MVC with 5.6 rebounds per game. He also ranked second on the team and seventh in the league with 12.8 points per game en route to MVC Newcomer of the Year accolades.

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