PORTLAND, Ore. – Former UTEP and Georgia Tech forward Kristian Sjolund has transferred to the Portland Pilots men's basketball team, head coach Shantay Legans announced. Sjolund (6-8, 210) joins the team with three years of eligibility remaining.
"Kristian will be one of the top shooters I have coached or will ever coach," Legans said. "He has played at a high level domestically and internationally throughout his career. Kristian's combination of size, athleticism and skill will translate well into the West Coast Conference. We are excited to have him join the Pilot family here on The Bluff."
"I am home," said Sjolund, who was born in nearby Vancouver, Wash. before his family moved to Norway. "It is great to be going to a school close to family and friends. The area is where everything started for me and where I was introduced to basketball at a young age. It has been a crazy journey and now coming back to where it all started is going to be a cool experience.
"I got to know Coach Legans and his staff and had a good feel for what they want to do at Portland. They have great passion for the game and have created a very welcoming environment. I'm excited to get started."
The forward from Kongsberg, Norway played 26 games this past season for the Miners, averaging 4.9 points and 2.1 rebounds per game while shooting 47 percent from three-point range. Sjolund led the team in three-point percentage and made five threes against the UAB Blazers on Feb. 6. That game also saw him score a season-high 15 points.
Before going to UTEP, Sjolund spent two seasons with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the ACC, redshirting during the 2019-20 season. During the 2018-19 season, Sjolund played in 21 games and made four starts as a true freshman. Sjolund averaged 9.8 points per game during a four-game stretch that saw Georgia Tech play Notre Dame, No. 22 Virginia Tech, No. 17 Florida State, and Pitt. He scored a season-best 11 points against both the Hokies and the Seminoles.
Prior to college, Sjolund had experience playing both in the U.S. and internationally. Sjolund led Obra D. Tompkins High School to the 2018 Texas 6A Championship game during his senior year and earned All-Region III 6A honors as a junior and senior. He was named to the District 19 6A Second Team in 2015 and 2016.
Sjolund played for his native Norway in the 2015 FIBA Under-16 European Championships, averaging 18.7 points and 5.9 rebounds per contest. He also played in the 2017 U-18 Nordic Championship.
Sjolund is the sixth newcomer to join Legans at Portland this offseason. He joins Eastern Washington transfers Mike Meadows, Tyler Robertson and Jack Perry, as well as freshmen Yaru Harvey and Skylar Wilson as members of the incoming class.
