The defending NCAA champion Michigan Wolverines landed one of the transfer portal's most coveted big men Friday, securing a commitment from 7-foot-2 center Moustapha Thiam out of Cincinnati.
Thiam, a 20-year-old, 250-pound center from Senegal, will suit up for a third program in three seasons. He played his freshman year at UCF under coach Johnny Dawkins, averaging 10.4 points and 6.4 rebounds, before joining Cincinnati's Wes Miller last spring. Now he heads to Ann Arbor to play for Dusty May and the Wolverines.
The move fills a significant position of need for Michigan. CBS Sports called Thiam one of the best remaining players available in the portal, and May has been aggressive throughout this offseason in rebuilding around the program's championship core.
At Cincinnati, Thiam put together a strong sophomore season. He averaged 12.8 points and 7.1 rebounds while shooting 52.5 percent from the floor. His best performance came February 21, when he dropped 28 points and pulled down 8 rebounds in a 16-point win over then-No. 8 Kansas. He also posted 24 points in a January game against UCF and recorded 18 points with 16 rebounds in the Big 12 Tournament loss that contributed to Miller's dismissal as Bearcats coach.
The connection between Thiam and Michigan is not entirely new. Cincinnati opened last season with an exhibition at Crisler Arena on October 17, facing the Wolverines in a 100-98 Bearcats win. Thiam scored 15 points that night.
The transfer portal officially closed at 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, but players can continue to commit after that deadline. The deadline for players to withdraw from the NBA Draft and preserve college eligibility remains May 28.
