UNC basketball showing interest in former West Virginia big man via transfer portal
North Carolina’s basketball roster-building effort continues well into the summer with James Okonkwo now on the Tar Heels’ radar.
A 6-8 forward who played the last two seasons at West Virginia, Okonkwo entered the transfer portal following Bob Huggins’ sudden resignation as Mountaineers head coach last month.
Okonkwo plans to visit UNC and Texas A&M, according to a report by CBS Sports.
Last season, Okonkwo led West Virginia in blocked shots with a modest 22 while playing in 31 games. He averaged only 11 minutes per game of playing time.
After averaging 2.5 points and 3.2 rebounds for the Mountaineers last season, he projects as a player to add needed depth inside for UNC this season.
The Tar Heels return Armando Bacot, the 6-9, all-ACC forward, for his final season of eligibility. Bacot averaged 15.9 points and 10.4 rebounds per game last season. UNC also has 6-10 sophomore Jalen Washington, who played in just 20 games as a freshman while averaging 2.2 points and 1.4 rebounds.
UNC has also added 6-9 forward Jae’Lyn Withers, a former Louisville player, via the transfer portal this offseason. Another 6-9 forward, Zayden High, is arriving this summer as an incoming freshman.
Okonkwo , originally from Maidenhead, England, arrived in the U.S. in 2020. Injury and illness limited him during a season at Beckley (W.Va.) Prep before he enrolled at West Virginia in 2021.
Though he only played in three games as a freshman in 2021-22, Okonkwo made the Academic all-Big 12 team. He missed seven games that season with a foot injury.
After going 20-13 and missing the NCAA Tournament last season, UNC saw starting guard Caleb Love transfer to Arizona, while 6-5 guard Tyler Nickel is headed to Virginia Tech, 6-6 forward Dontrez Styles to Georgetown, 6-8 forward Justin McKoy to Hawaii, and 6-8 forward Puff Johnson to Penn State.
The Tar Heels have already added four players via the transfer portal: 6-foot-7 wing Harrison Ingram (Stanford), 6-5 shooting guard Cormac Ryan (Notre Dame), 6-9 forward Jae’Lyn Withers (Louisville) and 6-5 guard Paxson Wojick (Brown).