George Mason University basketball player Moni Akintunde

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Thurs. Feb. 08, 2007

About a year and a half ago, George Mason University basketball player Moni Akintunde began having trouble feeling refreshed when she woke up in the morning.

Shortly after, the Laurel High School graduate started to experience pain and swelling in her hands and developed skin rashes.
Confused, Akintunde visited the doctors at GMU’s student health center for answers. She even visited her family doctor. But it was not until Akintunde visited a dermatologist that she became enlightened.

Last March, Akintunde was diagnosed with lupus, a disorder which causes the body’s immune system to attack cells within the body. No cure for the disease exists.

‘‘It was scary and it was frustrating,” Akintunde said. ‘‘The thing that was really prevalent was my skin rashes.”

After her diagnosis, Akintunde started what is now a daily regimen of medication and supplements.

But as Akintunde put it, she ‘‘can’t stop living” and part of her life is centered around the GMU women’s basketball team. The 5-foot-10 forward is arguably the Patriots’ best all-around player, averaging 9.3 points and 7.2 rebounds per game this season.

Last year, in her second season at George Mason, much of the Patriots’ game plan was centered around Akintunde and that trend continues in her junior year.

‘‘Being at Laurel, I had a lot of leadership roles,” Akintunde said. ‘‘My junior and senior year, I was counted on a lot. That helped me a lot when I got to college. My sophomore year of college and this year are the same as my last two years at Laurel because a lot of the offense runs through me.”

But Akintunde said she ‘‘learned to play through adversity” while at Laurel High.

Patriots’ coach Debbie Taneyhill said Akintunde possess many of the qualities that could help her this season and beyond.

‘‘If Moni was 6-foot-2, she’d be like [the University of Maryland’s] Crystal Langhorne,” Taneyhill said. ‘‘You’re not going to find a kid with a better work ethic, motivation and determination than Moni. ... Moni’s a great fighter. I know she’s going to be successful in life.”

Aside from basketball, Akintunde spends two days per week working at a hospital as part of her demanding course load as a nursing major. Meanwhile, a number of Akintude’s friends and family continue to stay posted on her career including Laurel coach Tommy Harrison, who attends a number of her games.

Akintunde’s father, Anthony, is proud of the way his daughter has managed to maintain a sense of normalcy.

‘‘I think it’s made her stronger and she’s determined to finish her basketball career,” Anthony Akintunde said. ‘‘I believe it’s God that has helped her. She continues to do well academically. She’s always tried her best and she’s very determined.”

Basketball has had a big impact on her life outside of sports.

‘‘I feel like [balancing basketball and nursing] helps me keep a strict schedule,” Akintunde said. ‘‘Living with lupus has made me a lot stronger. My schedule helps me not to procrastinate.”

Elsewhere on campus

Bishop McNamara graduate Jori Nwachukwu has had a big impact in her freshman season at North Carolina Central. Nwachukwu has averaged 13 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. She has been named as Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Rookie of the Week three times this season.

James Madison University junior guard Terrance Carter (Largo High) is third on the team in scoring at 11.6 points per game and its leading rebounder at 7 per contest. Carter has started 19 of 23 games this season and has five double-doubles performances in scoring and rebounding.


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