Moustapha Thiam, Jalen Celestine Commit to Cincinnati

by Ryan Roberts

Wes Miller and his staff landed a pair of transfers on Monday with the commitments of 7'2" UCF transfer center Moustapha Thiam and 6'7" Baylor transfer guard Jalen Celestine.

 

 

Thiam, a former top-15 recruit and #1 center nationally in the class of 2025, enrolled at UCF last year as the highest rated commit in program history after re-classifying up a year. 

 

 

Thiam finished the season averaging 10.4 points (49.8% FG, 29.1% 3PT), 6.4 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game. His 88 blocks during his freshman season was good for 4th nationally and also a program record by a rookie. 

 

 

At 7'2" , Thiam has a 7'5" wingspan and is an athletic and mobile big man that has shown range out to the 3-point line. His best games this season came against Kansas State (11 pts, 10 rbs, 8 blks) , Houston (18 pts, 5 rbs, 3 blks), and BYU (17 pts, 6 rbs, 3 blks).

 

 

Thiam fills an immediate need at center with the graduation of Aziz Bandaogo and departure of Arrinten Page to the transfer portal.  Cincinnati also returns redshirt-freshman Tyler McKinley and sophomore Halvine Dzellat. 

 

 

While Thiam helps provide an impact player in the front court, Jalen Celestine helps fill multiple needs on the perimeter as a big wing who can play both the three and four positions.

 

 

 

At 6'7" 215 lbs, Celestine spent the beginning of his career primarily playing the three while at Cal. During his last season at Baylor, Celestine was used as a four man that could stretch the floor with his shooting ability. 

 

 

A career 38% 3-point shooter, Celestine gives Wes Miller a consistent shooting threat that they lacked from the wing position last season. The Ajax, ON native averaged 7.1 pts, 3.5 rbs, and made 38% of his field goal attempts during his one season with Scott Drew and Baylor. 

 

 

 

Celestine adds experience as well, having played in 111 games throughout his four-year career. He scored in double figures in nine games this past season, with his season-high being a 20-point effort against Tarleton State. In that game, he made 4-of-7 from three. 

 

 

Other notable games for Celestine include 14 points against St. Johns, 18 points, 7 rebounds against Kansas State, as well as 12-point efforts against both Kansas and UCF. 

 

 

With Celestine and Thiam joining Kerr Kriisa, Sencire Harris, and Jalen Haynes as transfer portal additions, UC currently has 11 of the 15 available roster spots filled.

Leave a comment

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published

Back to UC Sports