Dusty May and the Michigan Wolverines are set to host former Cincinnati big man Moustapha Thiam for a visit on Monday, and if all goes well, it appears they could receive a commitment shortly after the visit.
At least that’s what On3’s Joe Tipton believes will happen. In a recent article where he “calls his shot” on several college basketball players in the transfer portal, Tipton expects the Wolverines to eventually land a commitment from the 7-foot-2 big man from the Big 12.
Here’s what Tipton had to say:
Moustapha Thiam is one
of the most coveted centers in the portal. The 7-foot-2 sophomore earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors after averaging 12.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game this season.
He’s already been to St. John’s and will now make the trip to Ann Arbor to visit the reigning champion Michigan on Monday. With the recent success Dusty May has had with bigs, I think they will have a good shot at landing him if they make a big push.
Calling My Shot: Michigan
Confidence Level: Medium
As Tipton laid out, Thiam is among the top big men in the portal this offseason — On3 ranks him as the No. 13 overall player and the No. 3 center in the portal, and 247Sports has him as No. 12 overall and the No. 3 center. He is considered a great defender and rim protector, as he recorded 50 blocks (1.6 per game) this past season.
He has a pretty solid offensive game as well, as he shot 52.5 percent from the field and 28.8 percent from three (15-of-52) for the Bearcats in 2025-26. But there is a lot of room to grow for Thiam offensively as well. He has a high ceiling and can still take his game up a notch, similar to what Aday Mara did this past season as a junior with the Wolverines. Heading into his junior year, he has a legitimate opportunity to do so under the tutelage of May and his coaching staff should he choose to transfer to Ann Arbor.
Michigan already has one big man committed this offseason via the portal, former Tennessee Volunteer J.P. Estrella, so it appears the collective hunch that Mara will be heading to the NBA is correct. We should find out soon enough on that front, but the fact the Wolverines are even hosting Thiam — a fellow 7-footer — for a visit today speaks volumes in my opinion.
The Wolverines are also waiting on a decision from big man Morez Johnson Jr., who also very well could declare for the NBA Draft.
