GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
The sunburst branded on Nkeruwem Akpan's right biceps represents his tribal name, Nkeruwem, which means "life."
A different brand The farther he gets from home, the closer Nkeruwem Akpan wants to be.
of 'Bow
Akpan is far from his homeland, but he's
Probable starters
looking to fit right in as a Hawaii starter
By Cindy Luis
cluis@starbulletin.comHe's always known he was a traveler, leaving Nigeria at age 16 on an odyssey worthy of Homer. Canada, New Jersey, California and Alabama were stops on his journey to a college education and basketball at the University of Hawaii.
It would be easy for him to lose his identity and sense of self, two oceans away from the village of Akwa-Ibom. But Akpan has made sure that he would always stay in touch -- by touch -- with his culture and his heart.
This past summer, the Rainbow sophomore forward had himself branded on his right biceps. The 'V's connect to form a raised sunburst, representing his tribal name Nkeruwem, which means "life."
"This symbolizes the sun," said Akpan, who will make his first start as a Rainbow in tonight's exhibition against Hawaii-Hilo. "The sun is life in Africa because it never dies. My tribal name means life.
"It's something I wanted to do because it tested my strength. I didn't cry and there was pain. My teammates think I'm crazy, but it helps me stay connected to home. I was starting to lose who I was and this pulled me back. I know who I am."
At age 20, the 6-foot-8, 235-pound Akpan is still a work in progress, both personally and on the basketball court. But those who have seen how his summer workouts pared his body down to below 4 percent body fat while building muscle mass are impressed.
"He's made a tremendous amount of progress," said UH associate head coach Bob Nash. "He worked out awfully hard this summer, worked out with the football players with (strength coach) Mel deLaura. He's got three years to grow, but he knows what it takes to be in shape and stay in shape.
"Last year, he was mostly on the scout team and sometimes it's disheartening when you always have to be someone else and never get to play as you. But I think he's found his own identity and, if he continues to develop and grow as he has in the past year, he's going to be a heck of a player for us."
Several times last season, Akpan showed flashes of the ability that made him an all-star at Central Park Christian High in Birmingham, Ala. After sitting out an NCAA-sanctioned 15-game suspension for supposed "extra benefits" in high school, Akpan slowly began to see court time, particularly when big men Mindaugas Burneika and Haim Shimonovich got into foul trouble.
Akpan's breakout game came at Fresno State on March 2, when he was pressed into duty after Shimonovich was sidelined with fouls. Akpan helped keep Melvin Ely in check while playing a career-high 22 minutes against the Bulldogs.
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Though basketball pays Akpan's way through school, he hasn't forgotten playing soccer growing up in Africa.
"I didn't know our offense and I didn't want to play if I was going to get yelled at and made to feel stupid," said Akpan. "I'm thinking that Ely is a great player and Haim is a good player and if Haim can't stop him, what am I supposed to do?
"When (coach Riley) Wallace told me to go in, I went to the other end of the bench, instead. The trainer had to tell me 'Go that way.' I was excited. I know I'm unpredictable, but I think I did the job."
Akpan got national notice when he blocked Xavier's All-American David West in the NCAA Tournament first-round game in Dallas last March.
"West is good, but Ely is great," said Akpan. "I could predict West's moves and, since I had more weight, I could push him off.
"When I blocked him, I looked at his face. Let's say he was surprised."
The biggest surprise about Akpan's game is his hands. They are soft and sure.
"A big part of his game is his ability to pass and that is crucial in our offense," said Nash. "He has that good vision and sees a lot of things. He's a very good passer."
His hands and speed have led some of the football players to try to talk him into another sport. They see Akpan as a big, physical tight end.
"Well, I do like to hit people," said Akpan, who grew up playing team handball, tennis, soccer and volleyball in addition to basketball. "And when I was in Alabama, I used to watch the Crimson Tide. I'd put on my red and watch the university play their games. It was fun to see Alabama playing here (Nov. 30)."
Alabama had an interest in Akpan for basketball, but Hawaii made a scholarship offer first.
"I love traveling and Hawaii is right for that," he said. "And Hawaii has a culture. Some of the football players danced hula for me and I did my tribal dance. They were impressed."
Akpan has seen the Egyptian pyramids, but was more impressed with seeing Kilauea on the team's trip to Hilo last season.
"If you believe in the supernatural, in the forces of the Earth, then that is the place," he said. "Seeing that made me feel good."
Akpan has many talents, from speaking six languages well -- and French poorly -- to hunting goats with a spear. He also has many nicknames.
"My middle name is Anthony and people in Canada called me Tony," said Akpan. "So If I hear that, then it's a friend from there. If I hear 'Yinka' then I know it's one of my teammates. Or 'Beast' is from my school in Alabama.
"A name is just a name, but it also tells me who I am to the people who use that name. And where I was in my life."
Akpan said he's concentrating on this season and has a few goals in place: Play hard, come in and give everything, win the WAC title and win games in the NCAA Tournament. Even thinking beyond his business degree in a few years isn't in the equation.
"I just think about what I'm doing right now," he said. "I don't want to put my mind somewhere and then I don't get there."
And if Akpan ever feels lost, all he has to do is touch his arm. He'll be home.
When: Today, 7 p.m. RAINBOW BASKETBALL
Where: Stan Sheriff Center
TV: None
Radio: Joined in progress after Monday Night Football, 1420-AM
Internet: kccn1420am.com
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Probable starters
HAWAII-HILO (5-2)
Ht. Pts. Reb. Ast. G Brady Hyde (Sr.) 6-1 8.6 3.3 4.1 G Ryan Abrahams (Jr.) 6-3 12.2 3.4 2.1 G David Mgbeke (Sr.) 6-3 10.1 3,1 1.1 F Kyle Bartholomew (Sr.) 6-4 13.3 3.9 1.0 F Ryan Hogue (Jr.) 6-6 5.3 3.1 2.1
HAWAII (2-0)
Ht. Pts. Reb. Ast. G Carl English (Jr.) 6-5 16.0 5.0 4.0 G Mark Campbell (Sr.) 6-4 5.0 1.5 7.0 F Vaidotas Peciukas (So.) 6-6 7.0 4.0 2.0 F Nkeruwem Akpan (So.) 6-8 6.0 3.5 2.0 C H. Shimonovich (Jr.) 6-10 18.0 6.5 2.5 Notes: Tonight is an exhibition game and will not count in the records of either team. The Rainbows hold a 4-0 edge over the Vulcans. The last meeting was in 1990, a 75-57 victory by UH. ... Rainbow junior guard Phil Martin will sit out tonight's game for missing study hall. ... The Rainbows have not played since Nov. 24 when defeating Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 100-81 for the title of the Hawaiian Airlines Tip-Off Tournament. ... Hawaii-Hilo has won three straight and is coming off Saturday's 89-81 victory over Fort Lewis (Colo.) College. Junior guard Ryan Abrahams led the Vulcans with 19 points and eight rebounds. ... Tonight is UHH's seventh game in 11 days ... The Vulcans are coached by former Rainbow assistant Jeff Law (5th year, 58-55). His staff includes former Rainbow guard Alika Smith.
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