quote:
Former Kentucky forward Adou Thiero, a projected first-round NBA draft pick in 2025, is following John Calipari and will transfer to Arkansas, he told ESPN on Monday.

Thiero considered a long list of schools, narrowing it down last month to Pitt, Kentucky, Indiana, North Carolina and the Razorbacks.

"I started with Coach Cal and want to see it through with him," he said. "Very excited to join the family and ready to get to work."

A 6-foot-8 forward from Leetsdale, Pennsylvania, Thiero is ranked No. 27 in ESPN's 2025 NBA draft rankings. He started 19 games this past season for Calipari at Kentucky, averaging 7.2 points and 5.0 rebounds in 21.3 minutes. Some of the sophomore's biggest games came in the Wildcats' toughest games, putting up 16 points and 13 rebounds against Kansas in the Champions Classic; 15 points, five boards and three blocks against Gonzaga; and 14 points and eight rebounds in a win over Auburn.

Thiero took a clear step forward from his freshman season, when he averaged 2.3 points and 1.9 rebounds in 20 games.

His development under Calipari and familiarity with the Hall of Fame head coach gave Arkansas the edge for his commitment.

"He's known for putting guys in the NBA that also stay in the NBA and coach Kenny Payne, who is now with him again, was also there for some of those years," Thiero said. "After already playing for him and developing after two years, I feel that he knows my game and will put me in the right position to succeed and achieve my goals."

Thiero becomes the fifth player to follow Calipari from Lexington to Fayetteville, joining incoming freshmen Boogie Fland, Karter Knox and Billy Richmond, and rising sophomore center Zvonimir Ivisic. The Razorbacks are also bringing in top-five transfer Johnell Davis from Florida Atlantic and all-SEC big man Jonas Aidoo from Tennessee.

2 ...

Report Post

Posted by RazorHawg

Member since Aug 2013

24325 posts

Posted on 5/6/24 at 1:48 pm to RazorHawg

LINK

quote:
Arkansas basketball and John Calipari have landed another big time transfer portal player. Former Kentucky forward Adou Thiero committed to the Razorbacks on Monday afternoon, according to a post on his personal Instagram account. He chose Arkansas over offers from Pittsburgh, North Carolina, Kentucky and Indiana.

Thiero is currently rated as the No. 10 overall transfer available and No. 3 power forward by 247Sports. He originally committed to the Wildcats as part of the 2022 recruiting class, but played sparingly during his freshman season.

The 6-8, 222-pound forward showed much more promise his sophomore season, despite missing eight games due to injury. He started in 19 of 25 games and averaged 7.2 points, 5.o rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.1 blocks. He shot 49.2% from the field, 31.8% from three and 80.0% from the charity stripe.

The Leetsdale (Pa.) native had 16 points and 13 rebounds in an 89-84 loss to No. 1 Kansas on Nov. 11; recorded 15 points, five rebounds and three blocks in an 89-85 loss to Gonzaga on Feb. 10 and tallied 14 points with rebounds in a 70-59 win at No. 13 Auburn on Feb. 17.

"Don't let the numbers fool you, Thiero is a highly impactful transfer," 247Sports national recruiting analyst Travis Branham wrote recently. "He has great physical tools, is a big-time athlete, and competes on both ends of the floor. Thiero is not far from polishing his jumper to push him over the edge and become a NBA Draft pick. The former Wildcat will bring defense, physicality, rebounding and intangibles to his next team."

Thiero is the seventh pledge for the Razorbacks in this cycle, and they currently have six roster spots left to fill for the 2024-25 season.

quote:
UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY BIO

2023-24 (Sophomore)
Played in 25 games, while making 19 starts … Was second on the team with 5.0 rebounds per game, also scoring 7.2 points per game … Had the second most blocked shots on the roster with 27, including four games with three or more blocks … Scored in double figures five times and led team in rebounding in eight games … Voted to the College Sports Today "Glue Guy" roster … Seven points, five rebounds and three blocks in SEC Tournament against Texas A&M … Registered 12 points vs. No. 13 Alabama … Played a career-high 33 minutes in road win at Auburn, scoring 14 points and adding eight rebounds … Scored 15 points, snared five boards and tallied three blocks vs. Gonzaga … Had seven points and a career-high four blocks in the upset of North Carolina … Charted nine points, six boards and three assists vs. Miami … Career-high three steals vs. Saint Joseph's … Posted first career double-double vs. No. 1 Kansas setting career highs in both points (16) and rebounds (13).

2022-23 (Freshman)
Saw action in 20 games in his first collegiate season … Averaged 2.3 points and 1.9 rebounds per game in 9.5 minutes per outing … Led the team in steals in four games and paced the squad in blocks three times … Scored a season-high seven points, hauled in five boards, added a pair of assists and a steal in the road win at Arkansas … Hit a 3-pointer in the home win over Auburn … Scored four points and pulled down four boards in eight minutes at Mississippi State … Tallied four points and induced two steals in the upset win at Tennessee.

Personal
Born May 8 in Utah … Parents are Mariam Sy and Almamy Thiero … Has three siblings, Oumou, Yassa, Nudiya … Major is communication … Away from the court he enjoys playing video games … Chose No. 3 because it was the same number his father wore … Most prized possession is his shoe collection … Favorite food is chicken and shrimp alfredo … Favorite TV show is Power … Chose Kentucky over Xavier, Duquesne, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Maryland.

LINK

quote:
Arkansas added another transfer commitment from head coach John Calipari's former team, as Kentucky guard Adou Thiero chose the Hogs on Monday.

A 6-foot-8, 222-pound soon-to-be junior from Pennsylvania, Thiero is the second Wildcat alongside big man Zvonimir Ivisic to join the Hogs.

Thiero averaged 7.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.1 assists while shooting 49.2% from the field, 31.8% from beyond the arch and 80.0% from the charity stripe in 25 games played for Kentucky last season.

Thiero took a visit to Arkansas on May 1, revealed by a post he made on his Instagram account.

A former three-star prospect according to Rivals, Thiero initially committed to the Wildcats over offers from schools like Xavier, Duquesne, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Maryland.

This time around, Arkansas had to fend off pushes from North Carolina, Pittsburgh and Indiana for Thiero’s commitment.

According to NBA Draft Room, Thiero currently projects as a late first to early second round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.

"Thiero is a powerful wing/combo forward who has awesome physical tools and has been a nice upward trajectory, becoming a more complete player and contributing on both ends of the floor," NBA Draft Room said. "He’s a standout defender, rebounder and energy player who does all the dirty work and plays within his role.

"He’s not yet a very good 3pt shooter but shows some promise and there’s a chance he develops into a solid floor spacer. He is good from the FT line and his shot definitely isn’t broken. Although his game is still unrefined he’s got the type of tools and upside that will be intriguing to NBA teams."

Thiero is the seventh scholarship player added to the Razorbacks’ roster ahead of the 2024-2025 season.

LINK

quote:
Former Kentucky small forward Adou Thiero committed to Arkansas and will rejoin head coach John Calipari in Fayetteville.

Thiero averaged 7.2 points and 5.0 rebounds per game in 2023-24. He shot 49.2 percent from the field and 80 percent from the free throw line.

Thiero officially entered the portal March 28 and recently cut his list to five schools, including a potential return to Kentucky. He also considered Arkansas, Indiana and North Carolina, in addition to Pitt, On3’s Joe Tipton confirmed in late April.

Thiero played only seven minutes in the NCAA Tournament against Oakland, a game that Kentucky lost 80-76. He finished with 2 points and 1 assist on the night.

Since Calipari accepted the offer to become Arkansas‘ next head coach, seven Wildcats entered the transfer portal and three entered the draft. Further, four of Kentucky’s highly-touted 2024 signees re-opened their recruitment.

As a member of the Class of 2022, Thiero was a three-star recruit out of Leetsdale (Pa.) Quaker Valley, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was the No. 8 overall prospect in the state, the No. 32 combo guard in the class and the No. 265 overall prospect in the class.

As a senior in high school, he averaged 23.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 3.9 steals and 2.3 blocks per game.

Thiero will get to play for his coach once again, just in a different uniform this time around.

Calipari had been at Kentucky since 2009. During that time, he went 410-123 and won a national championship. he also took the Wildcats to the Final Four on four different occasions. However, in recent seasons, Kentucky has struggled more come March.

Following the 2023-24 season, Calipari chose to leave the program for another SEC school, Arkansas. There, he’s replacing Eric Musselman and expectations are again going to be high once again.

0 ...

Report Post

Posted by RazorHawg

Member since Aug 2013

24325 posts

Posted on 5/27/24 at 9:31 am to RazorHawg

LINK

quote:
Kentucky transfer D.J. Wagner, a former top-five recruit, has committed to Arkansas, sources told ESPN.

Wagner becomes the sixth player or prospect to follow John Calipari from Kentucky to Arkansas. Adou Thiero and Zvonimir Ivisic also transferred from Lexington to Fayetteville, while recruits Boogie Fland, Karter Knox and Billy Richmond flipped their commitments.

Calipari stunned the college basketball world in early April, when the Hall of Fame coach left Kentucky after 15 seasons to replace Eric Musselman at SEC rival Arkansas.

A 6-foot-4 guard from Camden, New Jersey, Wagner entered the portal in mid-April and had a quiet recruitment. He took only two visits, to USC and Arkansas.

The son of former high school phenom and NBA player Dajuan Wagner, D.J. Wagner was considered the top player in the 2023 class for much of his high school career.

He ended his high school career ranked No. 4 in the ESPN 100 and entered Kentucky with first-round NBA draft expectations. After a couple of early 20-point efforts against Saint Joseph's and Marshall, however, he was inconsistent on the offensive end.

He finished his freshman season averaging 9.9 points and 3.3 assists.

Wagner is now reunited with both coaches -- Calipari and Kenny Payne, now an assistant at Arkansas -- that recruited him heavily coming out of high school. Calipari had coached Wagner's father at Memphis, while Payne, then the head coach at Louisville, played with Wagner's grandfather Milt on Louisville's 1986 national championship team.

With the addition of Wagner, Arkansas will likely enter the 2024-25 season ranked in the top 15 nationally. Along with the Kentucky transfers and former commits, Calipari also landed two of the best players in the portal: Florida Atlantic transfer Johnell Davis, the AAC Player of the Year, and Tennessee transfer Jonas Aidoo, an All-SEC selection.

Wagner's decision was first reported by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.