By R.L. Bynum
West Virginia junior 6–8 forward James Okonkwo has committed to North Carolina, giving the Tar Heels needed front-court depth.
Okonkwo, who led the Mountaineers with 22 blocks last season while shooting 57.4% from the floor but entered the transfer portal on June 26, announced his decision Thursday on social media.
His post read: “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!!”
Okonkwo, who turns 20 on Oct. 1, is in North Macedonia playing for Great Britain’s team that plays its opener in the FIBA U20 Men’s European Championship on Friday at 3 p.m. against Austria. You can watch a streaming broadcast of the game here.
After playing three games in his first season at West Virginia, he scored 42 points in 31 games over 340 minutes last season.
During his freshman season, he made the Academic All-Big 12 Rookie team. That season he was out for the first seven games with a foot injury.
His best game was when he had career highs of 10 points and 10 rebounds on Feb. 4 in the Mountaineers’ 93–61 home win over Oklahoma.
Okonkwo’s addition leaves Coach Hubert Davis with two more scholarships. Okonkwo had scheduled a visit to UNC for later this month.
Although his hometown is Maidenhead, England, he attended high school at Beckley Prep in West Virginia.
He made a two-handed block against Texas Tech (below).
In Coach Bob Huggin’s final season at West Virginia before resigning last month, the Mountaineers went 19–15 overall and 7–11 in the Big 12. WVU lost 76–65 in the first round of the NCAA tournament to Maryland, with Okonkwo playing 14 scoreless minutes with six rebounds, two assists and a block.
Key events, dates
Saturday, April 27, was the deadline for players to submit their names to the NBA draft
Wednesday was the deadline for players to enter the transfer portal
Next Saturday and Sunday — NBA G League Elite Camp in Chicago
May 12–19 — NBA Combine in Chicago
May 17–19 — Evaluation for high school players at NCAA-certified events (EYBL in Indianapolis is one of those)
May 29 at 11:59 p.m. — Deadline to withdraw from NBA draft and maintain college eligibility
June 16 at 5 p.m. — Deadline to withdraw from the NBA draft
UNC schedule so far
Nov. 8 — at Kansas (final AP rank No. 20; final NET ranking No. 19)
Nov. 22 — at Hawaii (final NET ranking No. 172)
Nov. 25–27 — Maui Invitational — Auburn (final AP rank No. 18; final NET ranking No. 5), Colorado (unranked; No. 25), Connecticut (No. 1; No. 2), Dayton (No. 24; No. 23), Iowa State (No. 8; No. 6), Memphis (unranked; No. 75), Michigan State (unranked; No. 24)
Dec. 14 — vs. La Salle (final NET ranking No. 195)
Likely in late November — Opponent TBA in ACC/SEC Challenge
December — vs. UCLA (final NET ranking No. 107) in CBS Sports Classic (date, location TBA)
December — vs. Florida (final NET ranking No. 29) in Jumpman Invitational at Charlotte’s Spectrum Center (date TBA)
— Games home and away against Duke, N.C. State and Pittsburgh
— Home games vs. Boston College, California, Georgia Tech, Miami, SMU, Stanford and Virginia
— Road games vs. Clemson, Florida State, Louisville, Notre Dame, Syracuse, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest
Note: 2024 NCAA tournament teams are in bold.
2024-25 UNC roster so far
| No. | Class | Player | Pos. | Hgt | Wgt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Freshman | James Brown (4 star) | 5 | 6–8 | 225 |
| — | Freshman | Ian Jackson (5 star) | 2 | 6–4 | 180 |
| — | Freshman | Drake Powell (5 star) | 2 | 6–5 | 185 |
| 3 | Soph. | Elliot Cadeau | PG | 6–1 | 180 |
| 1 | Soph. | Zayden High | 4 | 6–9 | 225 |
| — | Junior | Cade Tyson | 3 | 6–7 | 203 |
| 13 | Junior | Jalen Washington | 5 | 6–10 | 230 |
| 0 | Junior | Seth Trimble | 2 | 6–3 | 195 |
| 5 | Graduate | RJ Davis | PG | 6–0 | 180 |
| 24 | Graduate | Jae’Lyn Withers | 4 | 6–9 | 215 |
Photo via @kingjmo_32
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