Transfer Portal Intel: The latest on Adou Thiero, Cliff Omoruyi, DJ Wagner, and more

The 2024 Transfer Portal has closed. For the first time, over 2,000 players entered. While players are no longer able to submit their paperwork, many are still available. They will still be recruited and there will still be commitments. So the recruiting intel continues to flow.

There are many different moving pieces in Transfer Portal recruiting, and all of it is worth keeping an eye on. Something to keep in mind is that transfer portal recruitments oftentimes move very quickly. Recruitments from the transfer portal can also change very quickly. While a school might lead on a Sunday, it is best to continue monitoring things as it could swiftly change by that Tuesday. Stay tuned to On3 as we continue to tell the full recruiting story with all the latest intel and breaking news.

Here is the latest intel on the recruitment of some of the top players who have entered the college basketball transfer portal.

F Adou Thiero, Kentucky

INTEL: Kentucky transfer Adou Thiero took a surprise visit to Arkansas on Wednesday. Thiero started 19 games and played in 25 for Kentucky last season. The 6-8/225-pound forward averaged 7.2 points and 5.0 rebounds this season.

I wrote earlier this week that the two schools I had heard the most around Thiero were Pittsburgh and UNC. After this last-second visit, I am told that a lot of the momentum has shifted toward the Razorbacks. The Thiero family has ties with new Arkansas head coach John Calipari. Thiero’s father, Almany Thiero, played for Calipari at Memphis, and Calipari, like Adou Thiero, is from the Pittsburgh area. With the intel I have gathered around his recruitment, I am close to placing an RPM for Adou Thiero to ultimately pick Arkansas. However, make sure that you pay attention to commitment time lines and see if ends up taking another visit.

G DJ Wagner, Kentucky

INTEL: The NBA released its NBA Draft early entrant list earlier this week. These are the players who have college eligibility remaining that will continue forward with the NBA Draft process. Players have until June 16 to withdraw fully from the NBA Draft. A notable name missing from the list was Kentucky freshman DJ Wagner, which almost ensures he will be returning to college next season. With that, the school I have heard the most with regard to Wagner is Arkansas.

The 6-foot-3 guard averaged 9.9 points and 3.3 assists for head coach John Calipari last season. Things were quiet during his high school recruitment, and we have seen much of the same here. USC is another school mentioned with Wagner. Continue to watch what information comes out around visits, and if any timelines are made public.

F Great Osobor, Utah State

INTEL: On3 reported on Wednesday that Great Osobor will not be heading to Kentucky. Things were trending that way earlier this week as word started to circulate about Louisville having a real chance here. Osobor started his official visit to Louisville on Wednesday. He is scheduled to take visits to Texas Tech and Washington. It is worth noting that Osobor’s former coach at Montana State and Utah State, Danny Sprinkle, is now at Washington. Heading into the Louisville visit, even before Kentucky stated they were out of it, Louisville and Texas Tech were the two schools I heard the most. Each visit he goes on is worth monitoring.

C Cliff Omoruyi, Rutgers

INTEL: Immediately when Cliff Omoruyi entered the Transfer Portal, St. John’s was the school that had the most buzz. Omoruyi has not taken an official visit to St. John’s. The Rutgers transfer has visited Alabama, Georgetown, and Kansas State. Omoruyi told On3’s Joe Tipton that Thursday’s UNC visit will be his final one. One source close to the recruitment tells me that there is some confidence coming from UNC heading into Thursday’s visit. The expectation was to get him on campus last. Another source told me that there were positive vibes after each visit so far. Continue to watch the visit and for a commitment timeline.

Other Transfer Portal Intel

F Chisom Okpara (Harvard) Chisom Okpara averaged 16.5 points and 6.0 rebounds at Harvard this season. The 6-foot-8/225-pound forward has shot 48.3 percent from the field through his two seasons with the Crimson. Based on the intel I have received since he went into the Transfer Portal I have placed my RPM for Okpara to ultimately choose Stanford.

F Brandon Gardner (USC) Brandon Gardner, a former four-star recruit who graduated from Christ the King/NY issued a top six earlier this week. Jacksonville, Arizona, San Francisco, NC State, Arizona State, and Texas A&M made the cut. Based on the intel I have received since he went into the portal I have placed an RPM for Gardner to ultimately choose Arizona State.

G Shakeel Moore (Mississippi State) Shakeel Moore has scored 1,040 career points with 68 career starts under his belt. Three schools I have consistently heard for the 6-foot-1 guard are West Virginia, Wake Forest, and Texas A&M. Texas A&M was heavily involved when Moore transferred from NC State to Mississippi State. Oklahoma is another school I have heard show late interest, however, can they work their way in there? One source told me they do not expect this one to take much longer.

F Nate Santos (Dayton) Nate Santos broke out this season at Dayton. The 6-foot-7 forward averaged 11.7 points while getting the third most shots on the top 25-ranked team. I am told that a return to Dayton is not out of the question. One school I have heard involved with Santos since entering the Transfer Portal is Texas Tech. While this one is somewhat new, continue to watch any visits that take place.

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