Vols land 6’11 transfer Felix Okpara of Ohio State

(utsports.com) KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – University of Tennessee head men’s basketball coach Rick Barnes announced Thursday the signing of forward Felix Okpara, a transfer from Ohio State.

One of the nation’s premier rim protectors, Okpara will join the Volunteers in 2024-25 with two years of collegiate eligibility remaining.

“We are thrilled to have Felix join us here on Rocky Top. He comes from a great family and is an exceptional teammate whose primary goal is to win,” Barnes said. “Felix is an elite shot blocker, high-level defender and terrific rebounder.  He possesses the ability to score in the low post, as well as play on the perimeter. A mobile athlete with excellent length who creates space offensively, Felix is a constant threat to get to the rim for a lob. We will do everything we can to help him further develop all aspects of his game.”

A 6-foot-11, 235-pounder, Okpara comes to Tennessee after two seasons at Ohio State. There, he played in 70 games and made 45 starts, while averaging 5.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per contest.

Okpara shot an outstanding 58.6 percent from the field throughout his tenure as a Buckeye, during which he scored in double figures 12 times, grabbed double-digit rebounds seven times, blocked three-plus shots 19 times and compiled two double-doubles.

The Lagos, Nigeria, native started in 34 of his 35 appearances as a sophomore in 2023-24. Okpara registered 6.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game. He shot 58.6 percent from the floor on the season.

Nine of Okpara’s double-digit scoring performances came in 2023-24, as did five of his showings with double-figure rebounds and 14 of his three-block performances. He averaged 14.0 points per game on 59.4 percent shooting in the NIT, excelling over the final three affairs of the season. Okpara opened the tournament with a career-best 16 points versus Cornell on March 19, 2024.

Okpara pulled down multiple offensive rebounds on 23 occasions in 2023-24, logging five-plus four times and reaching seven twice. On the season, he recorded 2.3 offensive boards per contest, aiding the Buckeyes to a 22-14 overall record.

On the year, Okpara, per CBB Reference, posted 4.0 blocks and 3.8 offensive rebounds per 40 minutes, along with a 10.4 block percentage (No. 18 among players with 500-plus minutes) and an 11.1 offensive rebound percentage. Okpara’s 824 minutes were the second-most of any player in the country in 2023-24 with at least a 10.0 block percentage and 11.0 offensive rebound percentage.

Only eight other Power Six players who hit the respective 10 and 11 marks while playing even 250-plus minutes on the year: Connecticut’s Donovan Clingan (788), Houston’s J’Vier Francis (765), UCF’s Ibrahima Diallo (608), Auburn’s Dylan Cardwell (509), Ole Miss’ Jamarion Sharp (489), Kentucky’s Ugonna Onyenso (450), Iowa State’s Hason Ward (445) and St. John’s’ Zuby Ejiofor (370).

Okpara finished the year second in the Big Ten and No. 11 in the country in blocks per game, with eight of the 10 players above him logging more minutes per contest. He was also third in the Big Ten and ninth nationally in total bocks (83), with six of the eighth individuals above him playing more total minutes. Additionally, Okpara placed No. 10 in the Big Ten in offensive rebounding, co-No. 12 in double-digit rebounding performances and No. 14 in total rebounding.

In 2022-23, his freshman season, Okpara averaged 4.0 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game. He appeared in all 35 contests and made 11 starts, finishing the year with a 58.7 percent field-goal clip.

Okpara notched a trio of double-digit point totals in his opening campaign, including posting both his collegiate double-doubles. The frontcourt standout also blocked multiple shots 12 times, with four-plus twice. He amassed multiple offensive boards on 13 occasions, with four-plus thrice, despite playing just 15.5 minutes per game.

Among the finest post players in the country coming out of high school, Okpara was a consensus four-star, top-70 recruit. He was a teammate of a current Volunteer, Cameron Carr, and a VFL, Julian Phillips, at Link Academy in Branson, Mo., a school current another current Tennessee player, J.P. Estrella, also attended. Before transferring there for his senior year, Okpara went to Hamilton Heights Christian Academy in Chattanooga, Tenn., approximately two hours from Knoxville.

Okpara held the No. 66 spot in the 247Sports Composite rankings, checking in at No. 14 among centers. The On3 Consensus rankings slotted him at No. 69 overall, including ninth at his position. Both sites listed Okpara top-70 in their own rankings, as did ESPN, which put him No. 62 nationally.

The lone prior player from Nigeria to play for the Volunteers is Yemi Makanjuola, who also hails from Lagos and competed on Rocky Top from 2011-13.

On3 tabs Okpara as the No. 27 player in the transfer portal, including sixth among centers, while 247Sports lists him No. 35 overall and eighth-best at the center position. He is the third newcomer headed to Rocky Top in 2024-25, joining prep guard Bishop Boswell and Hofstra transfer guard Darlinstone Dubar.