Kentucky has reached out to a center in the transfer portal

Kentucky is looking to add a big man via the transfer portal.

Feb 29, 2024; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights center Clifford Omoruyi (11) / Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

After the first-round loss in the NCAA Tournament, it is officially transfer portal time for the Kentucky coaching staff.

We are still in the limbo period when players will decide whether or not they are going to the NBA Draft, hit the transfer portal, or come back to Kentucky. According to Joe Tipton of On3, John Calipari has reached out to a center in the transfer portal. Kentucky and many other top schools have reached out to former Rutgers center Clifford Omoruyi, who is an elite defender.

Last season for Rutgers, Omoruyi averaged 10.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks per game. During his career in the Big Ten playing for Rutgers, Omoruyi was twice selected to the All-Conference Defensive Team.

Forward is a position that raises many questions for next season, as you have two big men coming in via the 2024 class: Jayden Quaintance and Somto Cyril. All three seven-footers from the 2023-24 roster, Ugonna Onyenso, Zvonimir Ivisic, and Aaron Bradshaw, can come back if they choose to do so. Some of these guys will have to hit the portal, and it seems like Coach Calipari is anticipating that happening by reaching out to Omoruyi.

We likely won't see much movement in the portal until last season's Kentucky players decide what their next steps are, but Omoruyi is a talented player who can score and play high-level elite defense. He would be a solid addition to Kentucky's 2024-25 roster, but before he inks anything to play in Lexington, a lot of things will need to be figured out.