What the Addition of Olivier Nkamhoua Would Mean for West Virginia

West Virginia's efforts in the transfer portal have paid off by landing Kerr Kriisa, Jesse Edwards, RaeQuan Battle, and Omar Silverio this offseason. Bob Huggins and his staff have done so well in the portal, but they're not done yet.

They have zeroed in on Tennessee forward transfer Olivier Nkamhoua, who has just one year of eligibility remaining. This past season with the Volunteers, Nkamhoua averaged 10.8 points, five rebounds, two assists, and 0.6 blocks per game and shot 51% from the field and 33% from beyond the arc.

With Tre Mitchell and Jesse Edwards likely anchoring down the two starting spots in the frontcourt, why is West Virginia going after Nkamhoua?

Bench production.

Last season when Mitchell got in foul trouble or needed to come out for a breather, West Virginia struggled to score the ball consistently in the post. James Okonkwo and Mohamed Wague had stretches where they played really well but they're both young players who are still adjusting to the college game. Nkamhoua would bring a wealth of experience to the frontcourt, having appeared in 112 games throughout his career (58 starts).

Offensively, he's well ahead of where Okonkwo and Wague are although they are making strides. He can post up and win with his back to the basket but can also step out and shoot mid-range jumpers and a few threes on occasion to keep defenses honest. The one area of his game that gets overlooked is his ballhandling (1.6 turnovers per game). Not only does he take good care of the ball but he has some impressive handles for a big.

Defensively, he's not going to pose as big of a threat as a shot-blocker compared to Wague or Okonkwo but he still has the length to impact shots/alter decisions in the paint. He takes pride in his defense and gives max effort on that end of the floor. There won't be much of a drop-off defensively, if at all when he's in the game.

Nkamhoua just wrapped up his visit to West Virginia over the weekend but is also considering Kansas State and Michigan. There is no timeline for when a decision will be made.

Are you looking for the inside scoop on the 2023 West Virginia basketball season? Or are you looking for some inside information on the recruiting trail? Then, subscribe to Mountaineers Now, with in-depth and exclusive information brought to you by Schuyler Callihan and Christopher Hall, two names you can trust. Subscribe today and get the first month of an annual membership for just $1, or a full annual membership at an almost 20% discount!

You can follow us for future coverage by liking us on Facebook & following us on Twitter:

Facebook - @MountaineersNow

Twitter - @MountaineersNow and Schuyler Callihan at @Callihan_.