Latest on transfer portal targets for Michigan Basketball

Breaking down the latest updates concerning Michigan basketball transfer portal targets, Olivier Nkamhoua and RayJ Dennis. 

It seems like we have been waiting forever to hear word on whether Olivier Nkamhoua will join the Michigan basketball program or not via the transfer portal.

Nkamhoua’s preference seems to be professional basketball. He entered the transfer portal and also declared for the NBA draft. However, the option of getting drafted doesn’t seem to be all that realistic, at least in 2023.

Nkamhoua wasn’t invited to the NBA draft combine. He did get an invite to the G-League combine, which gives players the chance to earn an invite, but he wasn’t among the eight players invited.

What it means for Michigan basketball

That means that he’s probably not going to get drafted, which is probably good news for Michigan basketball. It’s still not a slam dunk he returns to college basketball though.

The G-League is a viable option for players and I’m sure that Nkamhoua would get signed. There’s a chance he could even get a two-way contract.

We have seen more players take that route. He’s also from overseas and going over there to play professionally could be an option too.

However, if the goal is to reach the NBA, Michigan basketball might be the best option. He’d have a big role with the Wolverines who need a low-post scorer and more high-usage players.

Nkamhoua averaged just under 11 points per game last season but I could easily see that scoring average increase with the Wolverines. He would also be a huge upgrade at the four for Michigan basketball and would be a huge step towards building a contending team in 2023-24.

Michigan basketball also hosted Rayj Dennis for a visit last week. The former Toledo guard has also taken a visit to Illinois and will also go to Baylor. We’ll see what happens there.

Michigan has missed on a couple of other transfers as Warren Washington, a big from Arizona State, committed elsewhere, as did Andrew Taylor of Marshall. Jaylin Sellars, a guard from Ball State is also an option.

At any rate, things should become clearer, at least with Nkamhoua and Dennis soon. But if Michigan basketball was somehow able to land both, you’d have to feel much better about the Wolverines’ chances of getting back to the NCAA tournament.