BRONX, N.Y. – Akira Jacobs, a 6-foot-10 forward with a track record of international success, has signed on to join the Rams and newly minted head coach Mike Magpayo for the 2025-26 season.
 
"I've known Akira Jacobs since he was 18 years old," said Magpayo.  "He has always had tremendous upside, which I saw first-hand when he was extremely impactful in U of Hawaii games against us in the Big West.  He will be a great shooter and driver, and brings athletic versatility. His international experience playing in the Olympics for Japan is invaluable and I think he will contribute immediately here at Fordham. What a great story to have a Japanese player playing here at Fordham and New York City!"
 
Jacobs comes to the Bronx following two years at the University of Hawaii.  After averaging 2.6 points and 1.0 rebounds in 7.2 minutes per game as a freshman in 2023-24, Jacobs enjoyed a breakout sophomore season, logging 6.9 points and 2.6 boards in nearly 19 minutes per contest. 
 
Jacobs reached double figures 11 times this past season in 30 appearances, eight of which were starts.  On Nov. 22 against No. 10 North Carolina in Honolulu, Jacobs scored 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting, including a 3-of-6 showing from beyond the arc.  On Jan. 9, Jacobs impressed against his future head coach, scoring 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting in an 83-76 win at UC Riverside.
 
In two seasons at Hawaii, the 6-foot-10 Jacobs shot 32.2% (46-143) from long range.
 
In between his freshman and sophomore seasons, Jacobs competed on the world's brightest stage, suiting up for the Japanese national team at the 2024 Paris Olympics.  Jacobs appeared in all three of Japan's games in the tournament, averaging more than 5.0 minutes per contest.  He pulled down three rebounds in five minutes of action against host France on July 30 before scoring a bucket against Brazil on Aug. 2.
 
Jacobs also competed with the Japanese national team at the 2023 FIBA U19 World Cup, averaging 17.0 points and 5.6 rebounds in seven games.  The year prior, he appeared in two games with Japan and won silver at the FIBA U18 Asian Championship.
 
A product of the NBA Global Academy, Jacobs was the first-ever Japanese prospect to join the program on a full-time basis.
 
A native of Yokohama, Japan, Jacobs played two years of high school basketball in Southern California, spending a season apiece at Redondo Union High School and Dymally High School.  As a sophomore at Dymally, he was named the CIF L.A. City Section Player of the Year.