NCAA Basketball: Analyzing top 5 options for Kentucky transfer Adou Thiero

When head coach John Calipari decided to leave Kentucky for the Arkansas job, everyone on the current roster with eligibility either entered the NCAA Basketball transfer portal or the NBA Draft. One guy who did both was Adou Thiero, a former four-star prospect from the 2022 recruiting class.

As a sophomore, the 6’6 guard/forward started 19 games for the Wildcats, averaging 7.2 ppg and 5.0 rpg. Thiero is known for being one of the top athletes in the sport, using his versatility and overall size to be an elite defender, hence why he has pro potential. He had five games of double-digit scoring, including 16 points and 13 rebounds against Kansas in the Champions Classic.

Thiero has had plenty of interest from teams in the portal and the Leetsdale, Pennsylvania native is reportedly down to just five teams in the mix, including two connected to his previous head coach. Which situation makes the most sense for him? Here’s a closer look at his potential fit with each option.

Arkansas Razorbacks

Following your head coach is always an option many players take and playing for Calipari makes sense. Especially in this case, since Thiero started this past season for him. It's currently a wide-open roster, with only teammate Zvonimir Ivisic being committed to the Razorbacks.

So the potential role that Thiero could have at Arkansas could be different and even bigger than the one he had at Kentucky. However, Coach Cal may want him to continue what he's been, a good role player. If he wants more, maybe a brand new situation would be best.