Before senior Pops Mensah-Bonsu went down with an injury during Saturday’s exhibition against Division II team Augusta State, the GW men’s basketball team was planning to redshirt senior Dokun Akingbade for the 2005-2006 season, Director of Athletics Jack Kvancz said Sunday. The 6-foot-9 Maryland native is seen as the primary backup for Mensah-Bonsu.

Coach Karl Hobbs said he did not have any answers on Sunday.

“I don’t have an answer yet,” Hobbs said. “It depends on how I feel.”

Mensah-Bonsu will get X-rays on his left ankle Monday, and the severity of the injury will be evaluated.

If Hobbs decides to sit Akingbade out for the season, it would have to be done before Akingbade steps on the floor. The NCAA regulations state that a player is permitted to sit out a year in the midst of their four years of eligibility. If the player participates in even one play during the season they wish to red shirt in, the player is not able to sit out for the season.

The motivation to redshirt Akingbade, Kvancz said, would be to allow him a season with more playing time after Mensah-Bonsu graduates.

-Jake Sherman