One of the nation’s premier big men hit the NCAA’s transfer portal last week, as 7-foot center Oumar Ballo is officially leaving Tucson on the heels of a three-year run that saw him make two first team All-Pac-12 teams.
The former five-star recruit out of Koulikoro, Mali, played his first three college seasons with Gonzaga. He redshirted the 2019-20 season before eventually joining Tommy Lloyd in Tucson shortly after he was hired in 2021.
Now, Ballo is on the market again on the heels of averaging 12.9 points and 10.1 rebounds per game and helping his Wildcats reach the Sweet 16. Despite Ballo’s impending departure, Arizona sportsbooks list the Wildcats as +2000 to win next year’s national championship. That’s tied for sixth overall.
Oumar Ballo Next Team Odds
Where Will Ballo Go Next?
When Ballo first announced his intention to enter the portal, conventional wisdom said he might try to go home again, returning to Gonzaga.
But this week, his transfer situation has come into greater focus, as he has recently scheduled visits with Indiana, Kansas State and Louisville — with visits to North Carolina and Florida to be scheduled soon. Of the teams on his visit list, North Carolina has the best title odds for next season. BetMGM Arizona lists the Tar Heels at +1600 to win the national championship, just ahead of Arizona. Florida, second on our list for Ballo’s services, is +5000 in title odds.
Indiana leads in our odds to acquire the big man at +325. bet365 Arizona lists the Hoosiers as +8000 to win the 2024-25 national title.
New Louisville coach Pat Kelsey could look to make a splash by signing Ballo, and the Cardinals are fourth on our list at +625.
USA Today photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea.
