Alabama Basketball Lands Grad Transfer Bola Olaniyan for 2016
The Missouri Valley Conference's second-leading rebounder from last season will join the Alabama basketball team this fall. Southern Illinois grad transfer Bola Olaniyan picked Avery Johnson's team and will be eligible to play this season.
Olaniyan is a little undersized for a post player at 6-foot-7, but the Nigeria native fills a need for the Crimson Tide. He averaged 8.8 rebounds per game for the Salukis, which included a conference-best 3.0 offensive rebounds per game. Alabama's best rebounder last year, Riley Norris, grabbed fewer than five per game.
The late addition to the roster will also give Avery Johnson more depth in the frontcourt. The team currently has just three true post players in Nick King, Jimmie Taylor, and Donta Hall.
Olaniyan also averaged 23.9 minutes and 7.8 points per game while shooting nearly 57% from the field.