Earlier this week, word circulated about Oumar Ballo’s planned visit to Chapel Hill later this month to assess the UNC basketball programme firsthand. That indicates that the Tar Heels are very interested in the 7-foot, 260-pound transfer, who averaged a double-double as a senior at Arizona this season.
However, Indiana, another of Ballo’s suitors, appears to have the strongest standing in the race, as seen by the 247Sports Crystal Ball forecast, which appeared Friday. Travis Branham, a national insider and one of the most dependable prognosticators in the game when it comes to high-profile contests in recruiting and the transfer portal, predicts the Hoosiers will win.
Although Branham’s option is still the sole one in Ballo’s Crystal Ball, remember that his forecasts frequently arrive within a few days of the athlete revealing his decision, which is usually the same one Branham predicted.
Oumar Ballo isn’t the only highly touted big man on Carolina’s transfer list, as head coach Hubert Davis looks to fill a vacuum down low after Armando Bacot’s five-year tenure as the program’s full-time starting centre. However, Ballo is ranked first at the position, and first overall, in 247Sports’ transfer rankings for this cycle.
The 21-year-old Mali native redshirted at Gonzaga in 2019-20 and played a limited role off the bench for the Bulldogs during the shortened 2020-21 season, which does not affect anyone’s eligibility. Ballo then transferred to Arizona, where he has gradually established as a strong interior force over the last three seasons.
Ballo started all 36 games for the 2023-24 Wildcats, who finished 27-9 and advanced to the Sweet 16 before losing to Clemson. He averaged 12.9 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 65.8% from the field.
