​The Marquette men’s basketball team has the centerpiece of its 2027 recruiting class.Akol Nyok, a high-upside 7-foot-1 center, announced his commitment to the Golden Eagles on Oct. 9.MU head coach Shaka Smart has previously secured commitments from 2027 recruits Philipe Ndong, a 6-8 forward, and Marlon Martinez, a 6-5 guard.Nyok, a native of the South Sudan, chose the Golden Eagles over Virginia Tech. He had an official visit to MU’s campus in late July.  The big man is the No. 103 recruit in the 2027 class, according to the 247Sports composite index.What kind of player is Marquette getting in Akol Nyok?Nyok attends Columbus High School in Miami, a powerhouse program that recently produced top 2025 recruits Cameron and Cayden Boozer, twins who played for Duke last season. In a unique move, the Columbus team will compete in the Overtime Elite league as a team called Cold Hearts.On the Puma Pro16 AAU circuit, Nyok played for Tre Mann Elite.With his lengthy wingspan and athleticism, Nyok profiles to be an elite rim-protector. On offense, he uses those tools as a lob catcher.Interestingly, Nyok is probably a higher-ceilinged version of Kur Kuath, another Sudan native who played for MU in Smart’s first season.This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Marquette gets commitment from 2027 center Akol Nyok