Ohio State center Felix Okpara enters NCAA transfer portal

Ohio State big man Felix Okpara is in the transfer portal following two seasons at Ohio State, On3’s Pete Nakos confirmed.

Okpara started 34 of 35 games for the Buckeyes this season, averaging just over six points and six rebounds per game as a strong inside force for OSU. He was also a terrific rim protector, having blocked 2.4 shots per game as well.

Now, Okpara’s decision comes as a complete counter to what he said at the beginning of the month. On April 1st, fittingly, April Fool’s Day, Okpara announced that he would return to OSU next season.

“I am excited and grateful to announce that I am 100% committed to running it back with OSU and Buckeye Nation!” Okpara said via Twitter. “Can’t wait to start a new chapter with Coach Diebs, my returning teammates, and the new staff and players to get to Ohio State back to our rightful spot at the top of the Big Ten.”

Now, a mere three weeks to the day later, Felix Okpara will now enter the transfer portal and evaluate his options ahead of the 2024-25 season.

Ohio State has seen a sort of exodus this offseason after officially changing head coaches from Chris Holtmann to Jake Diebler. Five Buckeyes have already entered the portal, but OSU hasn’t sat idle this offseason, either, already landing some high-profile transfers such as Meechie Johnson (South Carolina), Aaron Bradshaw (Kentucky) and Micah Parrish (San Diego State).

Perhaps Bradshaw’s arrival in Columbus is a partial reason for why Okpara decided to hop in the portal.

The 7-foot-1, 226-pound Bradshaw averaged 4.9 points, 3.3. rebounds and 0.7 blocks in 13.8 minutes per game this season while shooting 57.6% from the field for the Wildcats as a freshman in 2023-24. He was already expected to have a big impact for the Buckeyes next season in Year 1 under Jake Diebler, and he’ll certainly be counted on now that Okpara is out the door.

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 to cap off a big leap of a sophomore season.

But a big step in Year 3 appears to be coming elsewhere. Just three weeks after announcing he would be returning to Ohio State, Okpara is leaving the program through the transfer portal.