All for Tennessee
Fansided

Tennessee basketball: Ranking all nine returning players for 2022-23

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee guard Josiah-Jordan James (30) and Tennessee guard Santiago Vescovi (25) smile after James made a three-pointer during a basketball game between Tennessee and Texas A&M held at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tenn., on Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022.Kns Vols Texas A M Hoops Bp
Tennessee guard Josiah-Jordan James (30) and Tennessee guard Santiago Vescovi (25) smile after James made a three-pointer during a basketball game between Tennessee and Texas A&M held at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tenn., on Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022.Kns Vols Texas A M Hoops Bp /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 9
Next
Dec 18, 2021; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers forward Olivier Nkamhoua (13) sits on the bench after finding out the game against the Memphis Tigers was cancelled at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 18, 2021; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers forward Olivier Nkamhoua (13) sits on the bench after finding out the game against the Memphis Tigers was cancelled at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /

Olivier Nkamhoua. 534. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 4. player. Power forward. Senior

6’8″ 232 pounds

Staying in the post, this is the return that could be a shot in the arm for Tennessee basketball. Olivier Nkamhoua suffered a season-ending injury in the Vols’ early February win over the South Carolina Gamecocks. Up until that point, he was having a breakout campaign and only getting better as a true stretch-four guy.

In the 22 games he did play, Nkamhoua averaged just over eight and a half points and five and a half rebounds a game. He also averaged a blocked shot a game along with half a steal and over one assist, so he was developing as a defensive specialist in Rick Barnes’ system too.

Now, his field goal percentage dropped to .497, but that’s because he took more three-pointers, and he was actually 13-of-29, or .448, from three for the year. Add in him shooting 72.2 from the free throw line, and he truly upped his scoring efficiency overall before going down.

Nkamhoua is back and fully healthy, but there’s a question as to exactly what role he played. Barnes saw lots of success going small and using other players in the post last year, and those players are back. However, he still started ever game he played and averaged over 21 minutes, so as the only returning scholarship four, he’ll provide lots of value.

Home/Vols Basketball