Buckeyes center Felix Okpara enters transfer portal

COLUMBUS — Ohio State center Felix Okpara announced on April 2 that he planned on running it back for the 2024-25 season. Three weeks later, however, Okpara has changed his mind. He entered the NCAA Transfer Portal on Sunday morning.

Okpara averaged 6.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game as a sophomore.

This season, Okpara ranked second in the Big Ten in blocks per game, he scored in double figures nine times and he piled up 10 or more rebounds five times. The big man from Lagos, Nigeria, put on 15 pounds ahead of the 2023-24 campaign and now stands 6-foot-11, 235 pounds.

After starting 11 games during his freshman year, including nine straight to end the season, he started every non-Senior Day game as a sophomore.

This news from Okpara comes just a week after the Buckeyes landed former five-star prospect and Kentucky big man Aaron Bradshaw from the transfer portal, presumably to line up with Okpara in a huge boost to a front court that has been lacking star power for years. The 7-foot-1, 226-pound Bradshaw averaged 4.9 points, 3.3. rebounds and 0.7 blocks in 13.8 minutes per game while shooting 57.6% from the field for the Wildcats as a freshman in 2023-24. He is expected to have a big impact for the Buckeyes next season in Year 1 under Jake Diebler.

Okpara, a stellar rim protector, has flashed his shot blocking ability ever since he put on an Ohio State uniform. His offensive game is what really has started to blossom of late. It’ll need to take the next step at his new stop.

Okpara rounded out the season with three straight games of 10-plus points. He averaged 13.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game during the Buckeyes’ mini NIT run.

Okpara took a big step in Year 2.

But big step in Year 3 will be coming elsewhere, and it won’t be with the Buckeyes. Just three weeks after announcing he would be returning to Ohio State, Okpara is leaving the program through the transfer portal.