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Tennessee basketball: Top five transfer portal players for Vols to target

By Caleb Calhoun

Mar 17, 2022; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Chattanooga Mocs guard Malachi Smith speaks with the media at a press conference prior to practice for the first round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 17, 2022; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Chattanooga Mocs guard Malachi Smith speaks with the media at a press conference prior to practice for the first round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 29, 2022; New York, New York, USA; Washington State Cougars forward Efe Abogidi (0) dunks the ball during the second half of the NIT college basketball semifinals at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 29, 2022; New York, New York, USA; Washington State Cougars forward Efe Abogidi (0) dunks the ball during the second half of the NIT college basketball semifinals at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports /

Scouting Report. Forward. player. 522. 3. Pick Analysis. Washington State Cougars. Efe Abogidi

6’10” 225 pounds

Rick Barnes has experience with NBA Global Academy players. Santiago Vescovi was one of them. He also has experience with overseas players in general. As a result, Tennessee basketball should have a great chance with Efe Abogidi out of Delta State, Nigeria, and Barnes’ ability to develop raw talent should make the Vols an intriguing option.

While Kenneth Lofton would be a great pickup, UT need more length to offset the losses of Fulkerson and Huntley-Hatfield. The key for them is defense in the post. That’s exactly what the Washington State Cougars transfer brings to the table, and he has the proven production to complement it.

Although he has averaged just between eight and nine points a game his first two years in college, Abogidi has averaged over one block a game both years, and he was just under two blocks a game last year. Remember Yves Pons? Imagine him with four more inches. That could be Abogidi.

He is also just under 80 percent from the free throw line for his career, so if Barnes needs another scoring option, he can develop Abogidi into that. As a junior with three years of eligibility left, he’d bring so much to the table and could potentially start alongside Olivier Nkamhoua down low.

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