Look: Cincinnati Transfer Moustapha Thiam Among Top Defensive Players in The 2025 Portal

Cincinnati boosted its forward spot big time with this talent.

Mar 8, 2025; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers guard Toby Okani (5) grabs a rebound against UCF Knights center Moustapha Thiam (52) during the first half at WVU Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-Imagn Images | Ben Queen-Imagn Images

CINCINNATI — Dillon Mitchell passes the baton to Moustapha Thiam.

The Bearcats brought in Mitchell as one of the nation's best defenders last year before his latest transfer to St. John's. And now Cincinnati has another top-tier frontcourt defender in Thiam.

Evan Miyakawa noted Thiam is the fifth-best transfer defender in the country by projected Defensive Bayesian Performance rating. A nice label for the top shot blocker in the Big 12 last season.

The 7-2, 235-pound freshman center averaged 10.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game this past campaign. He led the Big 12 in blocks with a 49.8% field goal percentage (29.1% from deep on 2.3 attempts per game).

The dynamic young rim protector has three years of eligibility left and could be the best five-man to play for Wes Miller at Cincinnati when his career is all said and done in Clifton.

Here are the top defensive players in the the transfer portal based on predicted defensive impact for next season at https://t.co/cegyfz96ax:

1. Jayden Quaintance
2. Morez Johnson
3. Zvonimir Ivisic
4. Mouhamed Dioubate
5. Moustapha Thiam pic.twitter.com/ZJ7OGaFVI2

— Evan Miyakawa (@EvanMiya) April 28, 2025

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