Moustapha Thiam won’t be making a run at Kansas after all. The former Cincinnati center, who had been one of the top names floating around the transfer market, announced Tuesday that he is staying at Michigan and will play for the Wolverines next season under newly hired head coach Mike Boynton.
That closes the door on a possible KU pursuit that had gained real traction after Dusty May’s unexpected departure for the Dallas Mavericks last week. Once the coaching change hit Ann Arbor, there was a sense that Michigan’s transfer group could start looking elsewhere, and Kansas was among the programs watching closely. Thiam was one of the biggest targets connected to that uncertainty.
For Jayhawks fans, the appeal was obvious. Thiam just turned in a breakout sophomore season at Cincinnati, putting up 12.8 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game. He shot 52.5% from the field and even stretched the floor with a 3-pointer every other game, a profile that made him stand out as more than just a traditional center.
Kansas had plenty of reason to stay in the mix, too. The frontcourt remains the clearest concern on the roster, with questions still hanging over whether returning sophomore Paul Mbiya and Charleston transfer Christian Reeves are enough inside. That reality kept Thiam firmly on Bill Self’s radar.
His name first popped for KU when he delivered a huge performance in Cincinnati’s shocking win at Allen Fieldhouse this season. Thiam went for 28 points and 10 rebounds in a 16-point Bearcats victory, and that showing helped put him on the Jayhawks’ watch list.
Kansas still isn’t done searching. Even with Thiam off the board, the staff continues to look for help in the open market and could also pursue former Tennessee standout J.P. Estrella, who committed to Michigan but has not yet said whether he will stay with the program under the new staff.
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