Saint Louis University men’s basketball has landed another piece for its Class of 2027 with the commitment of Totu Akuentok, a 7-0, 215-pound center from Fort Erie International Academy in Ontario, Canada.
The Edmonton native announced his decision to play for head coach Josh Schertz and the Billikens, selecting SLU over scholarship offers from Ball State, New Mexico, San Diego, Buffalo, and others. Akuentok is the younger brother of Texas Tech forward Marial Akuentok.
At Fort Erie, Akuentok developed under coach Steve Houston, who coached him for four seasons. Houston described the big man as an “incredible kid and worker” who arrived as a 6-5 freshman and has grown into a skilled 7-footer.
“He can shoot it, pass it, finish with both hands — on top of becoming a great vocal leader,” Houston said. “With how coach Schertz runs his program and the modern style of offense they like to play, it’s a seamless fit for Totu.”
Akuentok spent the summer with Brookwood Elite on the Adidas 3SSB circuit, where he averaged 5.5 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. Scouts have noted his size, length, and feel for the game, and he has continued to draw positive evaluations in recent Border League action.
The commitment arrives as Schertz continues building the Billikens frontcourt. After the Robbie Avila era, SLU has added pieces such as former top-100 prospect and Marquette transfer Sheek Pearson. Akuentok is viewed as a prospect who can contribute depth in the near term while developing into a more significant frontcourt option given his skill set and growth trajectory.
Schertz, who has elevated the program since arriving from Indiana State, has emphasized a modern offensive approach that aligns with the skill and versatility Houston highlighted in Akuentok. For a Billikens roster that has shown strong recent results in the Atlantic 10, the addition of a true 7-footer with developing perimeter skills and a high ceiling offers another layer of size and potential for the future.
