Cincinnati transfer center Moustapha Thiam, a 7-foot-2 player, is reportedly drawing significant attention from multiple prominent college basketball programs, including Michigan and Michigan State, as he explores his options in the NCAA transfer portal. Thiam, who averaged 12.8 points and 7.1 rebounds last season for Cincinnati, is considered one of the top available players in the current transfer cycle, ranked No. 13 overall by the On3 Industry Transfer Rankings. He is scheduled to visit Michigan on Sunday.
Michigan State is actively pursuing Thiam, seeking to bolster their frontcourt. The pursuit aligns with what some fans have expressed as a desired addition for coach Tom Izzo's roster. Thiam’s defensive prowess has been highlighted, with a reported defensive rating of 94.7 last season, ranking seventh in the Big 12. His previous season at UCF saw him lead the Big 12 in blocks per game.
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Other top programs, including UConn, Duke, and Kansas, are also reportedly showing interest in Thiam. His departure from Cincinnati comes after one season with the Bearcats, where he achieved All-Big 12 Honorable Mention status. During his time at Cincinnati, Thiam recorded notable performances, including a career-high 28 points against Kansas and a 24-point outing earlier in the season. In his final game for Cincinnati, he put up 18 points and 16 rebounds against his former team, UCF.
