Tennesee basketball and Rick Barnes are still winning through the portal, and the Vols are adding another player for the 2024–25 campaign.
Tennesee basketball and Rick Barnes are still winning through the portal, and the Vols are adding another player for the 2024–25 campaign. Ohio State’s Felix Okpara, a four-star center, is the most recent athlete to commit to Tennessee via the transfer portal.
The 6-foot-11 sophomore, who spent two years with the Buckeyes, is returning home to Chattanooga, Tennessee. During his two years at Ohio State, he averaged 6.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks. He started 34 of the 35 games he played in last season. He intends to take Jonas Aidoo’s spot in the starting lineup for the Vols.
Compared to his rookie year, when he made significant progress in almost every statistical area and established himself as a mainstay in Ohio State’s lineup, last season was a significant improvement. Tennessee has to give top priority to adding a large man who can defend the rim and provide the physicality that is anticipated each night because there aren’t many highly-rated centers available in the transfer portal this cycle.
Following Okpara’s commitment, Barnes remarked, “Felix is an elite shot blocker, high-level defender, and terrific rebounder.” “In addition to playing on the perimeter, he can score in the low post. Felix is a dynamic player that can move quickly, has great length, and can create space offensively. He is a continuous threat to go to the basket for a lob. We’ll exert every effort to support him in refining every facet of his game.
Joining four-star forward Darlinstone Dubar as the second player to pledge to Tennessee via the portal is Okpara. He will be Tennessee’s other big man, along with sophomore JP Estrella. With Okpara joining, there will be intense rivalry at that position, which will aid in the continued development of Okpara’s and Estrella’s skills as young players.
Although he doesn’t fit the profile of the “offensive threat” that Barnes and associates have been pursuing during this portal cycle, he offers Tennessee much-needed size and a defensive presence in the paint, which will be essential if they hope to make it back to the Elite Eight the following season.
The forwards Jonas Aidoo and Tobe Awaka entered the portal earlier this month, and the Vols are now waiting to find out where they end up. There is still time to watch how things work out for the Vols and add a few more essential players to contend for another SEC Championship before the portal closes at the end of April.
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