They didn’t call him ‘Felix Block-para’ for nothing this season.
As of an official announcement on Monday afternoon, Tennessee senior center Felix Okpara has been named to the SEC All-Defensive team for his impressive play on the court this past season. The 6-foot-11 center was a swatting machine as he protected the rim for the Volunteers.
In 29 games so far this season, Okpara is averaging 7.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game. His 41 total blocks rank 10th in the conference. Okpara has recorded a season-high four blocks in two games this season, coming against South Carolina State on Dec. 30 and Vanderbilt this past Saturday.
Other members on this year’s SEC All-Defensive Team include Florida’s Rueben Chinyelu, Georgia’s Somto Cyril, Arkansas’s Billy Richmond III, and Vanderbilt’s Tyler Tanner.
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As Tennessee’s lone returning starter from last season’s Elite Eight squad, Okpara has been instrumental to Tennessee’s success this season. He’s been solid on the defensive end for the entire year, but has also elevated his offensive game in recent weeks. Okpara has reached the double-digit scoring mark in three of Tennessee’s last six games, including 20 against South Carolina, 15 against Missouri, and 18 against Oklahoma. He had eight points in each of the other three games, making him one basket away from double-digits in each.
Okpara and the Vols will head to Nashville this week to compete in the SEC Tournament at Bridgestone Arena. The Vols are the 5-seed in the competition and will take on either 12-seed Auburn or 13-seed Mississippi State in their first game on Thursday. From there, Tennessee would play 4-seed Vanderbilt and 1-seed Florida to get to the championship game if everything held as chalk.
Okpara was one of three Tennessee basketball players who earned All-SEC nods on Monday. Tennessee guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie was named to the First Team All-SEC squad while freshman Nate Ament made the Second Team All-SEC unit. Ament also made the SEC All-Freshman team.
Stay tuned to Rocky Top Insider for more Tennessee Basketball coverage with postseason tournaments just right around the corner.
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