West Virginia Puts Olivier Nkamhoua’s Recruitment as Top Priority

West Virginia is scheduled to host Tennessee transfer forward Olivier Nkamhoua starting on Saturday. Nkamhoua’s recruitment process sped up after participating in the NBA G-League two weekends ago in Chicago.

WVU’s coaching staff has made Nkamhoua’s recruitment a top priority this week. The coaching staff believes that adding Nkamhoua to the current roster can lift WVU into Big 12 contention talks next season.

Nkamhoua recently completed his senior year at Tennessee, playing for Rick Barnes in all four seasons. Nkamhoua helped get the Volunteers to a Sweet-16 this past March. The Finland native played his best basketball against Duke in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, recording 27 points on 10-of-13 shooting. Nkamhoua averaged 10.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists through 36 games. Nkamhoua shot 51 percent from the field.

If West Virginia can land Nkamhoua, they’ll pair him up with RaeQuan Battle (G – Montana State), Jesse Edwards (C – Syracuse), Kerr Kriisa (G – Arizona), Jose Perez (G – Manhattan) and Omar Silverio (G – Manhattan) to complete the transfer class. According to EvanMiya, WVU would secure the best transfer class in the country by adding Nkamhoua. It appears that West Virginia would be done in the transfer portal this offseason at that point. WVU currently has 13 players on the roster. Adding Nkamhoua would bring the total up to 14.

Michigan has been the other school that’s set their attention to Nkamhoua as well. Michigan has been linked to Nkamhoua since he entered the portal back on March 30. The Wolverines have struggled in the transfer portal this offseason, losing Hunter Dickinson to Kansas and a once-committed Caleb Love from UNC. Michigan head coach Juwan Howard and his staff are in desperation to land another transfer recruit and Nkamhoua can be that guy in Ann Arbor.

Nkamhoua will begin his visit to Michigan starting on June 2.

If Nkamhoua does decide to head to Michigan, WVU has their eyes set on a few other portal recruits. WVU’s staff has recently contacted Zyon Pullin (G – UC Riverside) and D’Marco Dunn (G – UNC) last week. Tyler Burton (F – Richmond) is another name to keep an eye on for West Virginia to contact possibly.

WV Sports Now will keep you up to date on Nkamhoua’s visits and recruitment in the coming days.