Another productive front court player is on the transfer market, as Eastern Illinois announced earlier this week that forward Chris Olivier will be transferring. Olivier, who began his college career at Northern Iowa before playing two seasons at EIU, will be eligible immediately as a graduate student.
Olivier averaged 13.0 points and 5.3 rebounds per game last season, shooting 54.2 percent from the field. Olivier played in 27 games last season, starting ten, and averaged 23.5 minutes per contest.
“We realized that this was a possibility at the beginning of the season, with the ‘fifth- year transfer rule,’” Eastern Illinois head coach Jay Spoonhour said Monday according to the Journal Gazette and Times-Courier. “It opens up a great opportunity for Chris professionally. Chris has worked very hard to complete his degree in four years, which has afforded him the opportunity to explore several options as he continues his career.
“Our team will miss his production, but I truly think this is a smart move for him. He’s been very good for us and I hope that this move allows him to get one step closer to his goals.”
One program that has already reached out the Olivier this week is Iowa State, with the Ames Tribune reporting this on Wednesday. The Cyclones are looking to add a body to their front court, with the program having hosted graduate students Tyler Harris (Providence) and Max Bielfeldt (Michigan) last weekend and former Brown forward Leland King scheduled to visit this weekend.