Former Knights star Moustapha Thiam re-enters the transfer portal. Can UCF's coaching prowess and fan base lure him back despite hefty NIL offers?
A reunion could be on the way for the UCF Knights and their former center Moustapha Thiam.
Thiam spent his sophomore year at Cincinnati and averaged 12.8 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 27.2 minutes of play under coach Wes Miller. While he had a good season, the Bearcats did not, ultimately missing a bid to the NCAA Tournament.
The 7-foot-2 center entered the portal when it opened last Tuesday and is interested in joining many elite programs. However, one program stood out compared to the rest: UCF.
Thiam spent his freshman year with the Knights and averaged 10.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.6 blocks under coach Johnny Dawkins. He improved under Dawkins, but their relationship couldn't hold a candle to the NIL money he received when transferring to Cincinnati.
The Bearcats spent approximately $2 million on Thiam, according to the Orlando Sentinel. Thiam's departure left a sour taste in the mouths of UCF fans, and they let him hear it by booing him in his return to the Addition Financial Arena.
UCF's loud boos that filled the arena did not affect the Senegalese native from scoring 24 points on 10-for-15 shooting. Dawkins complimented his former player for his performance in an unwelcoming, hostile environment.
"He's a terrific young man, and for him to come in this environment and have, I think, probably his best performance of the year speaks volumes of how talented the young man is," Dawkins said. "We've seen that every day in practice. So, we saw what his potential was, you know, what he's capable of doing."
When the Knights and Bearcats matched up, Thiam rose to the occasion. He averaged 19 points and 9.3 rebounds on 57% from the field, including an 18-point, 16-rebound double-double in Cincinnati's season-ending loss to UCF in the Phillips 66 Big 12 Tournament.
The connection between Thiam and Dawkins makes UCF an interesting reunion for the 7-footer, but other schools could offer more money in NIL.
While Thiam earned nearly $2 million, the Knights' entire roster last season was valued at approximately $3 million. The other schools, like Connecticut, Duke and Kansas, could outright trump his former NIL deal at Cincinnati, giving UCF no chance at reuniting with its former center.
However, Dawkins has developed NBA players before, as evidenced by Taylor Hendricks, who plays for the Memphis Grizzlies. Dawkins sees NBA potential in Thiam, and the 7-footer could help UCF earn back-to-back trips to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history.
"He has enormous potential, and it's just a function of him going in on it every day, working and every game learning from each one of those experiences," Dawkins said. "And then you'll see a player that has a chance to be an NBA player."
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