The transfer portal is heating up, and St. John's is right in the thick of the action. After watching several top names commit elsewhere, Red Storm fans have been eagerly awaiting their program's first major offseason addition. That wait may soon be over, as a wave of high-profile visits hits Queens this week, headlined by one of the most coveted big men available.
Former Cincinnati center Moustapha Thiam is set to complete his official visit to St. John's on Tuesday, according to a report from Jeff Goodman of Field of 68. The 7-foot-2 Senegalese standout represents a prime target for head coach Rick Pitino as he looks to rebuild his frontcourt.
Thiam isn't short on options, with a who's-who of college basketball powerhouses like UConn, Duke, Kansas, and Gonzaga also in pursuit. His decision will be one of the portal's most watched.
What makes Thiam such a special prospect? It starts with his rare physical tools. Possessing a 7-foot-6 wingspan and impressive mobility for his size, he is a natural rim protector—a skill Pitino desperately needs to replace after losing Zuby Ejiofor. Thiam ranked 12th in the portal with a defensive rating of 89.0 (per BartTorvik) and led the Big 12 in blocks as a freshman at UCF.
But he's far more than just a defender. Thiam has developed a polished and efficient offensive game. After transferring from UCF to Cincinnati, he boosted his scoring average to 12.8 points per game last season on 52.5% shooting. His arsenal includes smooth hook shots, floaters, and a capable face-up jumper, which he displayed in a dominant 28-point, 8-rebound performance against Kansas in February.
Thiam's visit is the centerpiece of a crucial recruiting week for the Johnnies. He joins a growing list of transfer targets making their way to campus, signaling that St. John's is aggressively pursuing the talent needed to compete in the revamped Big East. For a program looking to make a splash, securing a commitment from a player of Thiam's caliber would be a massive statement.