Incoming basketball transfer Felix Okpara arrived on Tennessee’s campus on Thursday, the Vols announced with a video.
Okpara was the second transfer to commit to Tennessee this offseason, signing with the Vols after Darlinstone Dubar did but before Igor Milicic. It was a quick recruitment for the Nigeria native who lived in Chattanoogs for three-years in high school.
The Ohio State center entered the transfer portal on a Sunday, visited Tennessee two days later and committed to Tennessee by the end of the week— filling the void that Jonas Aidoo and Tobe Awaka left on the Vols’ roster.
A 6-foot-11, 235-pound center, Okpara started 34 game for the Buckeyes last season where he averaged 6.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game. Okpara is one of the best rim protectors not only in the transfer portal but in the country as a whole.
The rising junior posted a 10.2% block rate last season, a mark that ranked 18th nationally and better than anyone on Tennessee’s roster.
On the offensive end, Okpara is a strong lob threat and plays with a physicality that makes him an effective finisher at the rim. The Lagos, Nigeria native’s offensive game has room to grow. He doesn’t score at a high clip on post up opportunities and doesn’t have a reliable jump shot at this point in his career. As a sophomore, Okpara shot 59% from both the field and the free throw line.
Okpara is one of the top players in the transfer portal, ranking as a four-star and the No. 50 player and No. 9 center in the portal according to 247sports and as a five-star and the No. 34 player in the portal according to EvanMiya.com.
Okpara is one of Tennessee’s three transfer signees as of date including Hofstra wing Darlinstone Dubar and Charlotte forward Igor Milicic. Okpara is the second Tennessee transfer to arrive on campus after Milicic arrived earlier this week.
The video shows Okpara arrive in Tennessee’s locker room and embrace Rick Barnes, his new assistant coaches and teammates. Check it out here.
