Former Cincinnati Bearcats center Moustapha Thiam is set to visit St. John's and coach Rick Pitino on April 14. Thiam averaged 12.8 points and 7.1 rebounds per game during his season at UC.
Former Cincinnati Bearcats 7-foot-2 center Moustapha Thiam is taking a visit to St. John's and coach Rick Pitino on April 14, according to The Field of 68's Jeff Goodman.
Thiam averaged 12.8 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, shooting 52.5% from the field, 28.8% from the arc and 63.3% on free throws in his lone season at UC.
Cincinnati Bearcats center Moustapha Thiam (52) shoots against his former team, UCF March 11 in the Phillips 66 Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City.
Pitino and St. John's snatched Dillon Mitchell from the Bearcats last season. The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 8.3 points and 7.0 rebounds for the Red Storm after scoring 9.9 points with 6.9 rebounds the year before for UC.
Thiam came to the Bearcats along with post position coach Mamadou N'Diaye from UCF less than a year ago, not long after UCF had defeated the Bearcats in the College Basketball Crown quarterfinals in Las Vegas.
At the time, it was considered a so-called package deal with N'Diaye and Thiam, and that may still be the case. Various reports had Thiam's representation asking for as much as $4 million to return.
Cincinnati Bearcats center Moustapha Thiam (52) blocks BYU Cougars guard Aleksej KostiÄ (6) in UC's March 3 win over the Cougars.
According to Goodman, Thiam is also considering Connecticut, Gonzaga, Arkansas, Duke, Kansas, Michigan State, Texas A&M, Tennessee and UCF.
Kansas just lost 7-footer Flory Bidunga, a one-time UC target, to Louisville, and Thiam had his high-scoring game at Allen Fieldhouse. When the Bearcats knocked off then-No. 8 Kansas on Feb. 21, Thiam had 28 points and eight rebounds.
UCF would be interesting as he would be returning to where he and N'Diaye stunned Knights fans by leaving for Cincinnati. As a UCF freshman, Thiam averaged 10.4 points and 6.4 rebounds.
Against the Knights this season, Thiam had 24 points and five rebounds in a 73-72 loss in Orlando, 15 points and seven rebounds in a win at Fifth Third Arena and 18 points and 16 rebounds in the team's final loss in the Big 12 tournament.
Thiam entered the transfer portal on the first day it was open, April 7.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Rick Pitino, St. John's to get visit from ex-UC center Moustapha Thiam
Moustapha Thiam averaged 12.8 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, shooting 52.5% from the field, 28.8% from three-point range, and 63.3% on free throws.
Moustapha Thiam is visiting St. John's on April 14.
Rick Pitino and St. John's recruited Dillon Mitchell from Cincinnati last season.
LIV Golf's future appears uncertain as reports suggest Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund may withdraw funding after investing $5 billion. Despite assurances for the 2026 season, the tour faces challenges from low ratings and strong competition from the PGA Tour.
Mike Trout's 446-foot HR joins him with Aaron Judge in Yankee Stadium lore.
Detroit Tigers projected to take a risk on a 6'3" prep bat in the MLB draft.
Arshdeep Singh makes history as the first PBKS bowler to reach 100 IPL wickets!
California's top high school football prospects are on the move this weekend.
Viktor Hovland shines with a 64 at RBC Heritage, Gotterup scores 70.
See every story in Sports ā including breaking news and analysis.