This Mizzou Tigers forward enters NCAA’s transfer portal, leaving CoMo after 1 season
After one season at Missouri, Tigers forward Axel Okongo has entered the NCAA transfer portal, a team spokesperson confirmed Tuesday.
It’s not the first time Okongo will be transferring out of a college program. The 7-footer came to Mizzou from Northwest College in Wyoming.
Last season, Okongo played in eight games, averaging 0.6 points and 0.3 rebounds per game. He ends his Mizzou career shooting 100% on field goals — a perfect 2 for 2.
Mizzou coach Cuonzo Martin said he wanted to see more from Okongo behind the scenes last season, vowing to sit him until January. Once the calendar flipped to 2020, the Saacy-sur-Marne, France, native made his Mizzou debut on Jan. 4 in the Tigers’ SEC opener at Kentucky.
Once Okongo saw the court, his role looked to expand a bit when Mizzou forward Jeremiah Tilmon went down with an injury in early January. But Martin elected to use a mix of Reed Nikko, Parker Braun and others instead.
Usually one of the first players on the court before games, Okongo spent his time during warmups polishing his post moves and working primarily with Mizzou assistant coach Chris Hollender.
Okongo is the third Tiger to transfer this offseason after one season at MU. Former freshmen Mario McKinney Jr. and Tray Jackson have also left the program.
Okongo’s departure frees up a scholarship spot. Martin and his staff could elect to shop the transfer portal again, which they did twice this offseason in adding guard Drew Buggs (Hawaii) and forward Ed Chang (Salt Lake Community College).