Pinging The Portal: Big Men, Sharpshooter Headline Latest Round Of Contact

CINCINNATI — The college basketball transfer portal is red hot as the Bearcats learned they likely won't have Landers Nolley II back in 2023-24.

The team's leading scorer announced he's exploring the NBA Draft, but will not hire an agent, so he could return and help UC enter the Big 12. Regardless, the staff is hunting for new talent to ensure they don't fall flat during the first Big 12 schedule in program history.

Here's the latest on UC's portal contact.

We start with a very real connection with Bradley transfer big man Rienk Mast. Former Bradley assistant coach Drew Adams is currently the Bearcats' Associate AD of basketball.

He coached Mast and has reportedly been in contact with him since the 6-foot-9, 240-pound center went into the portal on March 20. The 2022-23 first-team All-MVC forward would be a fantastic veteran addition that can bang with Big 12 centers next season.

He posted 13.8 points per game while hounding the boards at 8 rebounds per contest. Mast shot 51.8% from the field and 35.3% from three-point range.

The forward has two years of eligibility left, and is currently On3's 40th-ranked transfer.

🚨 Transfer Portal Spotlight

Rienk Mast
6’9” 240
Center
Bradley
2 Years of Eligibility Remaining

2022-23 Stats (29 Games):
📊 14 PPG, 8 RPG, 3 APG, 36 3P%

📶 79 Career Starts, 1001 Career Points.

🏅 2021 MVC All-Freshman, 2x All-MVC.

🎥 https://t.co/Y7JwOvcAC6 #TP4PT… pic.twitter.com/mwTs8Oddfu
— Transfer Portal for Playing Time (@TP4PT) March 22, 2023

🇳🇱 Rienk Mast has entered the portal, as reported by @VerbalCommits

13.8 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 2.4 APG for Bradley this year. Consistently one of the best Euro bigs in D1 in the past two seasons.

His recent career-high effort against Northern Iowapic.twitter.com/tuWEx8i6Qh
— CBB Europe (@CBB_Europe) March 20, 2023

Jake Weingarten reports Cincinnati is also in contact with Florida transfer center Jason Jitoboh.

The frontcourt focus continues as UC tries not to miss on another big-man transfer. Jitoboh averaged 3.1 points on 58% from the floor, 1.5 rebounds, and 0.7 blocks in a career-high 11.5 minutes per game last season.

When star center Colin Castleton went out, Jitoboh started and averaged 5.7 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game over the Gators' last seven contests.

Jitoboh endured a brutal eye injury (damaged retina) while at Florida and could tap into a higher ceiling after (hopefully) fixing the eye for good with a final surgery this offseason.

He has one year of eligibility remaining and is currently On3's 128th-ranked transfer.

Hamilton Heights alum, @JasonJitoboh has hit the transfer portal.

Jason recently finished up his 2022-2023 campaign with The University of Florida and has 1 year of eligibility left.

Here are a few clips of Jitoboh. #TheHeights pic.twitter.com/ACPblQxrHx
— Hamilton Heights Boys Basketball (@HHhawksbball) March 26, 2023

From big men to a big-time scorer in Rice transfer guard Quincy Olivari.

Mark Berman reports Cincinnati contacted Rice's all-time leader in made three-pointers this week. He is leaving as a grad transfer after averaging 18.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.2 assists and 36.4% from three (7.4 attempts per game) last season.

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound guard could cement a nice backcourt for UC next season in his final year of eligibility. On3 currently has him ranked 46th among players in the portal.

Quincy Olivari is entering the transfer portal. Olivari had a great season averaging 19/6/2 and a steal per game. He was also efficient shooting 36% from three on 7 attempts a game. Olivari is one of the best scorers in college basketball and is very underrated. pic.twitter.com/cL5YV1JKN3
— KJ (@KJ__Hoops) March 23, 2023

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