Omaha basketball transfer Ayo Akinwole commits to Drake

Drake men's basketball has added the veteran point guard it was looking for.

Ayo Akinwole, a University of Nebraska-Omaha graduate transfer, announced his commitment to the Bulldogs via Twitter on Thursday. The 6-foot point guard started 52 of 120 games played over four years at Omaha, and he started all 25 last year, averaging 13 points, 3.6 points and 2.9 assists per game while shooting 45.6% from long range.

One of the better shooters in the transfer portal, Akinwole, who shot 41.6% on 3s during his four years at Omaha, also fielded interest from Bradley, Southern Illinois, UAB, Utah Valley, Fort Wayne, Wyoming, Sam Houston State and North Texas.

"It makes the most sense for what I’m looking for in my last year," Akinwole told the Register of his decision. "Coach (Darian) DeVries and his staff have built a great culture and I want to be a part of that."

The Bulldogs were searching the portal for a point guard after rising star Joseph Yesufu entered the transfer portal and wound up committing to Kansas earlier in April.

Drake still has one 2021 scholarship left, but landing Akinwole filled the program's most significant and immediate need. 

Akinwole, who's from just outside Omaha in Papillion, Nebraska, played his best basketball at the end of last season. Over Omaha's final nine games, Akinwole averaged 20.6 points per game while shooting 55.8% from 3-point range. When Drake beat Omaha 87-66 back on Dec. 3, he scored 14 points.

Matthew Bain covers recruiting, Drake basketball and pretty much anything else under the sports sun for the Des Moines Register and USA TODAY Network.  Contact him at mbain@dmreg.com and follow him on Twitter @MatthewBain_.