Tennessee basketball adds Ohio State big man through transfer portal…..

Rick Barnes and Tennesee basketball continue to win through the portal as the Vols add another piece for the 2024-25 season.

Rick Barnes and Tennesee basketball continue to win through the portal as the Vols add another piece for the 2024-25 season. The most recent player to commit to Tennessee through the transfer portal is four-star center Felix Okpara from Ohio State.

The 6-foot-11 sophomore is from Chattanooga, Tennessee, so he’s moving back home after two years with the Buckeyes. He started 34 out of 35 games last season and averaged 6.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks in his two years at Ohio State. He will look to replace Jonas Aidoo in the Vols’ starting lineup.

Last season was much improved from his freshman year, where he improved in virtually every statistical category and became a key component in Ohio State’s lineup. There aren’t too many highly-rated centers in the transfer portal this cycle, so Tennessee had to prioritize bringing in a big man who can protect the rim and bring the physicality expected every night.

“Felix is an elite shot blocker, high-level defender, and terrific rebounder,” Barnes said after Okpara’s commitment. “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.”

Okpara is the second player to commit to Tennessee through the portal, joining four-star forward Darlinstone Dubar. He will also join sophomore JP Estrella as the other big man on Tennessee’s roster. Okpara’s addition will keep competition at a maximum in that position, and that will help Okpara and Estrella continue to develop their game as young players.

He doesn’t follow the “offensive threat” mold Barnes and company have been targeting throughout this portal cycle but provides much-needed size and defensive presence in the paint that will be pivotal for Tennessee if they want to return to the Elite Eight next season.

The Vols are still waiting to see where forwards Jonas Aidoo and Tobe Awaka will land after entering the portal earlier this month. The portal closes at the end of April, so there’s still time to see how things shake out for the Vols and bring in a couple more key pieces to compete for another SEC Championship.

A few weeks back, news broke that the University of Tennessee women’s basketball program was extremely interested in the idea of filling it’s head coaching void with Indiana women’s basketball head coach Teri Moren. Given the amount of success that Moren has produced in recent memory at the helm with the Hoosiers, it was not surprising that the Vols were intrigued in Moren’s services.

Did you notice how the word were was distinguished from the rest of the previous sentence? That is because it did not take long for Moren to display her loyalty to the candy stripe faithful.

Teri Moren is an Indiana Hoosier, and she showed her true cream and crimson colors via this decision. She more than likely could have received a heftier payday were she to consider the switch, but her loyalty to this program was inspiring.

Clearly, Moren’s devotion to IU caught the attention of more than just the administration at Tennessee.

With the 6’3″ Karoline Striplin now in the mix down low, Moren adds yet another depth piece to a frontcourt looking to fill a gigantic void following the loss of Mackenzie Holmes.

Striplin may not have been the most prized prospect in the transfer portal, but her addition should prove critical as we look ahead to what could be yet another big season for Indiana women’s basketball in 2024-2025. Her presence on the floor will undoubtedly benefit everyone around her, and her experience (entering her senior season) ensures that she should be ready to contribute from day 1.

While Striplin’s commitment should primarily be chalked up to this storied basketball program, it should also be a subliminal message to all those who dare try to poach our commander. Is it a coincidence that there were a grand total of zero eligible players from the 2023-2024 roster that elected to enter the transfer portal?

Teri Moren is OUR head coach, and that will remain the case for years to come as she continues to pave the path back to the top for Indiana women’s basketball.