Former Arkansas forward Connor Vanover announces transfer destination
Former Arkansas Razorbacks forward Connor Vanover announced his decision to transfer to Oral Roberts on Monday afternoon on Twitter. For Vanover, this is the second transfer of his career. He started out at Cal before making the move back home to Arkansas.
At 7-foot-3, 230 pounds, Vanover is one of the tallest collegiate basketball players on the market. He contributed 7.5 minutes per game for the Hogs this season, which was a career-low. He posted 3.9 points per game, along with 2.9 rebounds, in 15 games played. Vanover also made 10 starts this season. In 2020-21, the Arkansas native started 27 of 29 games but contributed 16.7 minutes per game with 6.3 points per game.
After his transfer from Cal to Arkansas, Vanover applied for eligibility relief from the NCAA and was denied, forcing him to sit out a season. The NCAA now has a one-time, penalty-free transfer rule, but it’s unclear whether the former Hogs forward will be able to play right away or not since it is his second move.
Vanover now joins head coach Paul Mills at Oral Roberts in Tulsa, Okla. The Golden Eagles went 19-12 in the 2021-22 season. They lost in the second round of conference playoffs to North Dakota State.
The newest Golden Eagle should be relatively familiar with the program after facing ORU twice last year. Arkansas beat Oral Roberts in December of 2020 and again in the Sweet 16 before losing to Baylor in the Elite Eight. Vanover contributed nine minutes and three points in the first game but didn’t hit the court in the March Madness tournament game.