Moustapha Thiam, a 7-foot-2, 250-pound center rented by the University of Cincinnati for a season, will follow the trend of many NCAA basketball players by playing for a third team in three seasons.
This time, the 20-year-old pivot will suit up for the defending NCAA National Champion Michigan Wolverines. ESPN Inside Shams Charania first reported the transaction.
Thiam came to the UC Bearcats last spring, shortly after UC lost to UCF in the College Basketball Crown.
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Both Thiam and then-UCF assistant Mamadou N’Diaye (also a 7-footer from Senegal) came from UCF after Thiam’s freshman season to join Wes Miller’s Bearcats. After averaging 10.4 and 6.4 points for Johnny Dawkins and the UCF Knights, he committed to UC just over a year ago on April 21, 2025.
Cincinnati Bearcats center Moustapha Thiam (52) makes a 3-pointer against his first team, the UCF Knights last March 11. Thiam committed to his third team, the Michigan Wolverines on April 24.
This past season he averaged 12.8 points per game and 7.1 rebounds per contest while shooting 52.5% from the field, 28.8% on 3-pointers, and 63.3% from the free-throw line.
Thiam’s top game for the Bearcats was a 28-point and eight rebound effort against then-No. 8 Kansas when UC won by 16 on Feb. 21.
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Against UCF, he had 24 points in a January loss and 18 points and 16 rebounds in the Phillips 66 Big 12 Tournament loss that proved to be the undoing of coach Wes Miller.
UC started last season with an exhibition in Crisler Arena against Michigan last Oct. 17, winning 100-98. Thiam joined Shon Abaev and Kerr Kriisa in leading the Bearcats in scoring with 15 points.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Moustapha Thiam leaves UC Bearcats for national champ Michigan
