Tar Heel basketball fans have plenty to look forward to this season, and it’s not just because Armando Bacot and R.J. Davis announced their highly anticipated returns.
One of UNC’s recent additions, University of West Virginia transfer James Okonkwo, is turning heads overseas.
Okonkwo, who committed to Carolina on Thursday afternoon, recorded a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double the following day in a 72-63 victory for Great Britain in the FIBA U20 European Championships.
Okonkwo also blocked three shots in Great Britain’s win, including this denial of Austrian guard Obinna Ndukwe. He led the Mountaineers with 22 blocks last season. The Mountaineers finished 19-15 after a crushing loss to the University of Maryland in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
OKONKWO BLOCK 🔥 pic.twitter.com/YPrexkSaeu
— Tar Heel Tapes (@TarHeelTapes) July 7, 2023
Carolina fans should get excited just from watching this highlight clip. Okonkwo brings the Heels a much-needed blocking ability to complement Bacot, particularly with the graduations of Pete Nance and Leaky Black.
Nance swatted away a Tar Heel-leading 34 blocks last year, Bacot ended his year with 33 and Black rejected 29 shots.
Who had the most blocks outside of these three?
Reserve point guard Seth Trimble, who swatted away just nine shots.
Bacot looked exhausted at times in games during the 2022-2023 campaign, playing over 30 minutes in 22 of the Heels’ 32 games. Okonkwo should allow Bacot to rest more at times and give UNC another reliable post player.
Okonkwo may not play a bunch, averaging just 10.9 minutes per game in 31 appearances with West Virginia last year, but fans can expect him to make an immediate impact down low when he does see court time.
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