Former UNC Basketball Big Man Transfers to MAC Program

Outbound UNC basketball transfer James Okonkwo is joining the Zips in Ohio.

UNC basketball big men James Okonkwo and Armando Bacot / Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Just last year, James Okonkwo opted to transfer to Chapel Hill after two seasons playing for West Virginia. However, the 6-foot-8, 240-pound junior played sparingly for the UNC basketball program, appearing in just 15 games before opting to hit the road once again.

RELATED: Insider Expects Huge UNC Transfer Target to Land Elsewhere

Now, it appears that the England native has found a new home, joining forces with a former teammate as he heads back to the Midwest.

On Saturday, national college hoops insider Jeff Goodman reported that Okonkwo, alongside former Mountaineer teammate Seth Wilson, will transfer to play at Akron next season. 

The Zips, who won the Mid-American Conference Tournament this past season before falling to Creighton in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, will have plenty of minutes available after graduating four starters.

And the departure of two of those seniors, Ali Ali and Enrique Freeman, will open up a cache of minutes in the frontcourt that Okonkwo will likely be hopeful to fill when he arrives on campus. Freeman recorded 31 double-doubles last season, tying the NCAA record set by Navy’s David Robinson and UNC basketball’s Armando Bacot.

🇬🇧 James Okonkwo is transferring to Akron. Will likely have a tremendous impact in the MAC. https://t.co/uQJuvKPIZ4

— CBB Europe (@CBB_Europe) April 14, 2024

Okonkwo will have two years of eligibility remaining.

In his lone season at UNC, Okonkwo averaged just 1.0 points and 1.0 rebounds in 2.9 minutes per game across 15 appearances. His best game as a Tar Heel came against Charleston Southern, when he finished with seven points and four rebounds in eight minutes of play.

Stay tuned to All Tar Heels on SI for more UNC basketball news.