West Virginia
Okonkwo picks North Carolina, becomes fourth WVU player to depart following coaching change – WV MetroNews
For the second time in as many days, West Virginia’s men’s basketball team lost a front court presence to a major program.
Junior forward James Okonkwo offered his commitment to North Carolina, becoming the fourth Mountaineer to leave the program since former head coach Bob Huggins resigned following his arrest for DUI.
After being in communication with the UNC coaching staff following my decision to enter the transfer portal I have decided to commit to UNC to play for Coach Davis in the 2023-2024 season. Can’t wait to compete for a national championship at Chapel Hill. Let’s go Tar Heels!!💙🤍 pic.twitter.com/TQItKSSOa5
— kingjmo_32 (@kingjmo_32) July 6, 2023
A native of Maidenhead, England, the 6-foot-8 Okonkwo showed flashes on several occasions as a sophomore during a season in which he averaged 2.5 points and 3.2 rebounds while recording a team-best 22 blocked shots.
Okonkwo came to WVU by way of Beckley Prep IJN. When that basketball program became defunct, Okonkwo bypassed his last two years of high school to enroll early in Morgantown.
Okonkwo appeared in only three games for the Mountaineers during the 2021-22 campaign.
On Wednesday, fellow junior forward Mohamed Wague pledged his commitment to Alabama following one season with the Mountaineers.
Previously, Joe Toussaint committed to Texas Tech and forward Tre Mitchell settled on Kentucky as four WVU players from last season’s team have found new homes Josh Eilert was named interim head coach.
Guard Jose Perez announced Wednesday his intention to enter the transfer portal. Perez sat out last season after transferring from Manhattan and being deemed ineligible to play by the NCAA.
If Perez finds a new home, guards Seth Wilson and Kobe Johnson and forwards Josiah Harris and Pat Suemnick would be the only possible holdovers from last season’s WVU roster.