NCAA Basketball: Analyzing teams in play for West Virginia transfer James Okonkwo
Forward James Okonkwo is in the NCAA Basketball transfer portal but could also return to West Virginia. Where is his best landing spot?
James Okonkwo is a 6’8 forward/center from England, who has spent the past two years at West Virginia. After just three games as a freshman, Okonkwo was a consistent rotation player off the bench this past season, averaging 2.5 ppg and 3.2 rpg in 11 mpg. on 57% shooting from the field.
The forward had some nice games off the bench, including a season-high 10 points and 10 rebounds off the bench against Oklahoma in just 14 minutes. He was set to resume the same role with the Mountaineers next year but after Coach Bob Huggins was let go, Okonkwo was one of several players to enter the portal.
The forward has gotten plenty of interest and a potential reunion with West Virginia is still on the table for now. Here’s a look a how Okonkwo would fit with each of them.
North Carolina Tar Heels
The Heels landed several transfers early in the offseason but still have some spots left on the roster. One position that lacks depth is power forward, with either Stanford transfer Harrison Ingram or former Louisville combo forward Jae’lyn Withers playing there. Okonkwo would give UNC legit size there and could play next to star center, Armando Bacot. Plus, with not much depth at the five-spot either, the transfer in question could find a role in the rotation there too.
Texas A&M Aggies
The Aggies have been looking for more frontcourt help and on Monday, they landed Wildens Leveque, a 6’10 center transfer from UMass. Technically, he and Okonkwo play different positions so the SEC program could still make a run at the former Mountaineer. But with Henry Coleman back and Jace Carter capable of playing some four as well, there’s a real chance that Okonkwo would struggle to get minutes at this option.
West Virginia Mountaineers
With Tre Mitchell officially gone to Kentucky, the power forward position is now wide open, with just Josiah Harris as the only other on the roster. And if Mohamed Wague commits elsewhere then there would be just two frontcourt players for the Mountaineers.
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That creates a great new opportunity for Okonkwo if he were the stay. The big question here would be how good of a relationship he has with new interim coach and former assistant Josh Eilert. If it’s good, maybe there’s a chance he comes back. Because based on the current roster, West Virginia certainly now needs him.