Rick Barnes explains Olivier Nkamhoua's 'No. 1 objective' after entering NCAA Transfer Portal
Olivier Nkamhoua entered his name in the NCAA Transfer Portal on March 30. But according to head coach Rick Barnes, the senior forward’s goal isn’t to transfer and play another season of college basketball.
“Olivier has told us day one that his No. 1 objective is to be a pro basketball player,” Barnes told reporters last week at the Big Orange Caravan stop in Knoxville. “He has told us that is his pursuit.”
Nkamhoua 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.
Olivier Nkamhoua had 27 points in wins over both Duke and Texas
He had 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 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.
Barnes said on Thursday that Nkamhoua entered the portal at the advice of his father. To date, he’s the only actively Tennessee player currently in the NCAA Transfer Portal.
“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.”
Meanwhile, Barnes and his Tennessee coaching staff have been actively building their roster for next year.
Tennessee added three transfer commitments last week
The Vols last week got commitments from USC Upstate guard Jordan Gainey, Harvard forward Caleb Ledlum and Northern Colorado wing Dalton Knecht. Senior guard Santiago Vescovi also announced Tuesday night that he would be returning for a fifth year at Tennessee.
Barnes was asked during the caravan stop if he was still having conversations with Nkamhoua and senior wing Josiah-Jordan James about what they may be doing next season.
“They’re both training,” Barnes said after confirming conversations had taken place. “I think what we pretty much have been told that when you go into that, their goal is to potentially work their way into that league and they’re training with their trainers. They’re with their trainers working towards trying to get themselves into a position to chase that dream, but they know how much we care about them and certainly, we love them.
“I just know that all that goes on with this, it always works out. It’ll work out. I don’t always have the answer for how it’s going to work out, but I just feel it always works out.”
