Rick Barnes and the Tennessee basketball team continue to win in the portal as the Vols add new pieces for the 2024-25 season. The most recent player to join Tennessee through the transfer portal is four-star center Felix Okpara from Ohio State.
The 6-foot-11 sophomore is from Chattanooga, Tenn., and will return to his hometown after spending two years with the Buckeyes. He started 34 of 35 games in two years at Ohio State last season, averaging 6.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.8 blocks. He will likely replace Jonas Aidoo in the Vols' starting lineup.
He improved significantly from his freshman year last season, improving in nearly every statistical category and becoming a key part of Ohio State's lineup. With not many highly rated centers in the transfer portal this cycle, Tennessee needed to prioritize bringing in a big man who could protect the rim and bring the physicality expected on a nightly basis.
“Felix is an elite shot blocker, a high-level defender and a great rebounder,” Burns said after Okpala's performance. “He has the ability to not only play on the perimeter, but also score in the low post.'' A mobile athlete with great length who creates space offensively, Felix goes for lobs and gets to the rim. is always a threat to reach. We will do everything we can to help him further develop all aspects of his game. ”
Okpala becomes the second player to commit to Tennessee through the portal, joining four-star forward Darlingstone Dubar. He will also join sophomore JP Estrella as Tennessee's other big men. The addition of Okpala will keep the competition at the position maximum, which will help Okpala and Estrella continue to develop their games as young players.
While he doesn't follow the “offensive threat” mold that Barnes and the team have targeted throughout this portal cycle, he provides much-needed size and defensive presence in the paint and could return to the Elite Eight next season. That would be extremely important for Tennessee if it wanted to. .
The Vols are still waiting to see where forwards Jonas Aidoo and Tobe Awaka land after entering the portal earlier this month. The portal closes at the end of April for him, so there's still time to see how things shake out for the Vols and bring in a few more key pieces to contend for another SEC Championship.