<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Discuss this podcast and UNC basketball with other like-minded Tar Heels fans

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

CHAPEL HILL – James Okonkwo, a rising junior forward who led the West Virginia Mountaineers last season in blocks and was second in field goal percentage, is joining the University of North Carolina men’s basketball program.

The Maidenhead, England, native appeared in 34 games over the past two seasons for West Virginia. He blocked 22 shots and shot 57.4% from the floor in 11 minutes per game last season.

“We are thrilled to have James and his family join our UNC basketball family,” says head coach Hubert Davis. “We needed another experienced big man that could do multiple things on the floor, both offensively and defensively. James checks all those boxes. He’s also a wonderful kid, a great student and fits perfectly with the makeup of this team.”

Okonkwo had career highs with 10 points and 10 rebounds vs. Oklahoma and also grabbed 10 rebounds against Texas Tech. He had five or more rebounds 10 times and blocked multiple shots five times with a high of three against Iowa State.

He played double-digit minutes 19 times and averaged 2.3 points and 3.0 rebounds as a sophomore.

He was a member of the Big 12 Honor Roll and was on the Big 12’s Academic Rookie team in 2022.

Okonkwo (oh-CON-kwo) played earlier this month for Great Britain’s U20 team in the Division B European Championships in Macedonia. He led Great Britain in scoring (12.1 ppg), rebounding (9.9 rpg) and blocked shots (2.1 bpg) in seven games.