Olivier Nkamhoua addresses transfer from Tennessee to Michigan
Olivier Nkamhoua chose Michigan as his transfer destination to help him take another step in his development “both now and for the future.” The former Tennessee senior forward addressed the transfer Wednesday afternoon while the Wolverines announced his signing.
“Choosing Michigan is another step in my development, both now and for the future,” Nkamhoua said. “I know the staff, my new teammates and everyone in Ann Arbor are going to challenge me to keep getting better. I can’t wait for that.
“I also want to be a part of the U-M culture Coach (Juwan) Howard has created — family and that never-back-down attitude. I look forward to being a part of a team full of guys that are hungry to prove themselves and everyone wrong.”
Nkamhoua entered the NCAA Transfer Portal on March 30 and received interest from Michigan, Baylor, West Virginia and Kansas State, among others. He was one of two Tennessee players that left through the portal this offseason, with freshman guard BJ Edwards transferring to SMU in May.
Juwan Howard: Olivier Nkamhoua ‘sees the floor and plays develop as good as anyone I have seen’
“It’s a thrill to be able to bring in an efficient and skilled player like Olivier,” Howard said. “He brings so many intangibles and experiences we know he will have an immediate impact for us. His strength, rebounding, hustle, back-to-the-basket game as well as outside shooting are just a few of his skillset that fans notice right away.
“However, what people don’t realize is what a tremendous passer he is. He sees the floor and plays develop as good as anyone I have seen. We are very excited for him to get to Ann Arbor.”
Nkamhoua went through the NBA pre-draft process and withdrew his name from the draft on May 31. He averaged 10.8 points and 5.0 rebounds in 25.3 minutes per game for the Vols this season, shooting 51.3 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from the 3-point line, where he went 18-for-54.
He took part in the NBA’s G League Elite camp in Chicago in May, measuring in at 6’8 1/4” barefoot with a 7’0 1/4” wingspan and an 8’10 1/2” standing reach. His hands were 10 1/2 inches wide and he weighed in at 229 pounds at 5.7 percent body fat.
Nkamhoua in scrimmage work at the G League camp scored 12 points on 3-for-6 shooting from the floor and 4-for-6 from the free-throw line in his first game, adding two rebounds, two assists and a pair of turnovers. In his second game, he had five points on 2-for-5 shooting, including 1-for-2 from the 3-point line. He had two rebounds, two steals, a turnover and three fouls.
Olivier Nkamhoua had 27 points in wins over both Duke and Texas
Nkamhoua had a season-high 27 points in the win over Duke in the second round of the NCAA Tournament but was limited to just six in the Sweet 16 loss to Florida Atlantic. He had another 27 against Texas on January 28 at Thompson-Boling Arena, but was held to eight points or fewer in 14 games and had four or fewer rebounds in 17 games.
Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said on during the Big Orange Caravan stop that Nkamhoua entered the portal at the advice of his father.
“He told us that his dad wanted him to put his name in the portal, which is a decision they have to make,” Barnes said. “From day one, our conversation with him has been that his ultimate goal was to try and put himself in a position to be a professional athlete next year.”
