Adou Thiero, a 6-foot-8 forward/guard, has decided to join head coach John Calipari at Arkansas, making him the latest Wildcat to make the move. Thiero made his commitment to the Razorbacks on Monday.
This decision comes after Thiero, a rising junior, had previously considered returning to Kentucky, as well as Pittsburgh, North Carolina, Indiana, and Calipari’s Razorbacks. He visited Pittsburgh and Arkansas, and was seen meeting with North Carolina’s head coach Hubert Davis in Lexington. Ultimately, he chose to stick with Calipari, who had also coached his father, Almamy Thiero, at Memphis.
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Thiero had a limited role as a freshman at Kentucky, averaging 2.3 points and 1.9 rebounds per game. However, he made significant improvements, gaining 22 pounds and growing two inches, which made him one of Kentucky’s most physical players this past season.
Despite missing eight games due to injury, Thiero played in 25 games, starting 19, and averaged 7.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.1 blocks, and 1.1 assists per game. He showcased his versatility by shooting 49.2 percent from the field and 31.8 percent from three-point range, becoming known as Kentucky’s top lob threat.
Thiero had notable performances, including a double-double against Kansas in the Champions Classic, scoring 16 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. He also scored 15 points against Gonzaga and 14 points with eight rebounds in a road win over Auburn.
Despite having two years of eligibility remaining, Thiero is highly regarded as a projected first-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Thiero is the second former Wildcat to follow Calipari to Arkansas, joining Zvonimir Ivisic. Additionally, Calipari has secured commitments from three of his class of 2024 recruits who initially chose Kentucky: Boogie Fland, Billy Richmond, and Karter Knox.
Thiero joins the ranks of Wildcats entering the transfer portal to find new homes, including Ivisic (Arkansas), Joey Hart (Ball State), and Aaron Bradshaw (Ohio State). Jordan Burks, D.J. Wagner, and Ugonna Onyenso are still undecided.
