NCAAB · 1 year ago

CBB Transfer Portal: Top 5 Landing Spots for Oumar Ballo

TJ Inman

Host · Writer

5. Florida Gators
The Florida Gators put on an offensive show in 2023-2024 but struggled to stop opponents. Oumar Ballo could benefit the Gators quite a bit as a rebounder and rim protector, and his ability to clean up around the rim wouldn’t hurt. Head coach Todd Golden hopes to build on the momentum from the NCAA Tournament appearance but go further than they did this time, losing to Colorado in a shootout. Ballo’s final scheduled visit is to Gainesville.

Florida 2025 NCAA Title Odds: +5500
1. Indiana Hoosiers
Oumar Ballo is one of the top big men in the transfer portal after choosing to leave the Arizona Wildcats. The Mali native began his career at Gonzaga before spending three seasons in Tuscon. He started 36 games, scored 12.9 points, and grabbed 10.1 rebounds in 2023 for the Wildcats. Ballo is a force in the paint and on pick-and-roll lob attempts, but his woeful free-throw shooting (49.5%) certainly limits his ability to stay on the floor late in games. The Indiana Hoosiers will have an attractive sales pitch when Ballo visits on April 14. Mike Woodson routinely plays two big guys simultaneously, and he still believes in the value of playing inside out and throwing it down low. Indiana might be the best bet for Ballo if he is looking for an opportunity to get post-up touches. Power forward Malik Reneau is returning to Indiana for his junior season. The spacing between those two on the floor would be a significant issue, but they would be a difficult matchup for most opponents.

Indiana Hoosiers 2025 NCAA Title Odds: +10000
2. Louisville Cardinals
Louisville fired Kenny Payne and has hired new head coach Pat Kelsey from the College of Charleston. Kelsey is not known for playing much through the paint, but his roster desperately needs capable big bodies, and Oumar Ballo qualifies. He is a plus-level rebounder and excels in pick-and-roll lobs, which good guards could utilize. Louisville has made it clear they are willing to spend big in the NIL market, and they may pay up for Ballo if he’s interested. The big man is visiting the Cardinals on April 16.

Louisville Cardinals 2025 NCAA Title Odds: +10000
3. Kansas State Wildcats
Kansas State head coach Jerome Tang pursued Oumar Ballo aggressively as soon as he hit the open market. Kansas State has not typically played with a big man like Ballo under Tang, but that may not have been by choice. After all, skilled seven-footers don’t grow on trees. After missing the NCAA Tournament in 2024, the Wildcats need an infusion of talent, and Ballo could be a centerpiece in more ways than one. He visits KSU on April 19.

Kansas State 2025 NCAA Title Odds: +8000
4. North Carolina Tar Heels
Head coach Hubert Davis is facing a roster rebuild as Armando Bacot is out of eligibility after manning the middle for the Tar Heels as a locked-in starter and All-ACC player. Bacot is a bit more mobile than Oumar Ballo, but the pitch for Davis would be relatively easy. Ballo could play at a big brand, be a part of a typically successful offense, and continue to be an elite rebounder and rim protector in an offense that knows how to operate with a big man. UNC does have other big guys that would compete for minutes with Ballo, but the Arizona transfer would be the most proven.

North Carolina 2024 NCAA Title Odds: +1500
5. Florida Gators
The Florida Gators put on an offensive show in 2023-2024 but struggled to stop opponents. Oumar Ballo could benefit the Gators quite a bit as a rebounder and rim protector, and his ability to clean up around the rim wouldn’t hurt. Head coach Todd Golden hopes to build on the momentum from the NCAA Tournament appearance but go further than they did this time, losing to Colorado in a shootout. Ballo’s final scheduled visit is to Gainesville.

Florida 2025 NCAA Title Odds: +5500
1. Indiana Hoosiers
Oumar Ballo is one of the top big men in the transfer portal after choosing to leave the Arizona Wildcats. The Mali native began his career at Gonzaga before spending three seasons in Tuscon. He started 36 games, scored 12.9 points, and grabbed 10.1 rebounds in 2023 for the Wildcats. Ballo is a force in the paint and on pick-and-roll lob attempts, but his woeful free-throw shooting (49.5%) certainly limits his ability to stay on the floor late in games. The Indiana Hoosiers will have an attractive sales pitch when Ballo visits on April 14. Mike Woodson routinely plays two big guys simultaneously, and he still believes in the value of playing inside out and throwing it down low. Indiana might be the best bet for Ballo if he is looking for an opportunity to get post-up touches. Power forward Malik Reneau is returning to Indiana for his junior season. The spacing between those two on the floor would be a significant issue, but they would be a difficult matchup for most opponents.

Indiana Hoosiers 2025 NCAA Title Odds: +10000