West Virginia One Step Closer to Landing Olivier Nkamhoua

MORGANTOWN, West Virginia — West Virginia’s top target, Olivier Nkamhoua, has now narrowed his potential future program choices down to two schools. According to Trilly Donovan, Nkamhoua will chose between West Virginia and Baylor. Kansas State and Michigan, both schools he’s visited in the past week, have been informed that they are out.

Nkamhoua, a 6’9 power forward, entered the transfer portal after four seasons with the Tennessee Volunteers. Nkamhoua averaged 10.8 points and 5.0 rebounds in 25.3 minutes per game for Tennessee this past season. He was in Morgantown on an official visit, where he toured the Mountaineers practice facility and met with Bob Huggins and his coaching staff. Nkamhoua was reportedly “very impressed” with the visit, but unfortunately did not yet commit before leaving town.

Nkamhoua’s father lives in Cumberland, Maryland, which is approximately an hour from Morgantown, and Nkamhoua was seen hugging Bob Huggins in the parking lot of a local restaurant during his visit last weekend. In addition, West Virginia has found ways to compensate foreign-born players with NIL deals using methods that other schools have not yet been able to do. The Mountaineers landed Kerr Kriisa, who was born in Estonia, and Jesse Edwards, who was born in The Netherlands, reportedly paying both players more than their previous schools (Arizona and Syracuse, respectively) could pay them and perhaps they can work their same magic with the Finland-born Nkamhoua.

In other words, West Virginia put on the full-court press to land Nkamhoua, knowing he very well could be the missing piece that could eventually lead the Mountaineers to a Big 12 and national championship. Nkamhoua is not only a talented, experienced offensive player, he would also instantly be the team’s best defender should he decide to join.

Expect an announcement within the next day or two!