FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Another former Wildcat is following John Calipari to Fayetteville.
Arkansas basketball received its fourth commitment from the transfer portal on Monday in Kentucky forward Adou Thiero, who has two years of eligibility remaining and brings more SEC experience to the Razorbacks’ roster.
Thiero’s teammate from last season, Zvonimir Ivišić, was Arkansas’ first signee out of the portal. The Hogs also landed three high school recruits who had already committed to Kentucky.
More: Johnell Davis commits to Arkansas basketball: What does the FAU transfer bring to the Razorbacks?
More: ‘It’s another level’: What impact will John Calipari have on Arkansas basketball recruiting?
According to The Athletic, Thiero is ranked as the 60th transfer in this year’s portal class. Here’s a closer look at Thiero’s decision to join Arkansas and his potential impact with the Razorbacks.
What Adou Thiero Brings to Arkansas Basketball
It may seem simple, but Thiero’s calling card is consistent energy. The 6-foot-1 guard combines his elite athleticism with sustained intensity to make hustle plays and provide a key piece to the Arkansas defense. He can defend all five positions and apply maximum effort on the glass.
Offensively, Thiero still needs work. He shot 31.8% from three last season, and according to The Athletic, Thiero made just 48% of his attempts around the rim. He needs to work on his touch both inside the box and beyond the three-point line, but Thiero’s ceiling rises to another level if he can become a reliable player on the offensive end.
Adou Thiero’s time at Kentucky
Thiero played in 45 games over two seasons with the Wildcats, with his minutes doubling as a sophomore. He averaged 7.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.1 blocks while playing much of last season with a thumb injury.
Thiero had his career-best period in early February, when Kentucky was beginning to turn the tide on its season. He scored 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds in a road upset over Auburn and reached double figures in scoring in three of the next five games.
How Adou Thiero fits in with the rest of the Razorbacks roster
It remains to be seen whether he will start, but Thiero brings much-needed versatility to the Hogs’ frontcourt. He could play the three and give Arkansas one of the biggest lineups in the country, or he could slide into the four against smaller teams where a more athletic frontcourt is needed.
The key to his role will be his offensive development. He started 19 games last season for a Kentucky team that needed his defensive intensity, but Calipari is putting together a much more balanced roster with the Hogs, with talented defenders like Jonas Aidoo and Johnell Davis already on the roster. If Thiero can make an impact in attack, he will get plenty of minutes.
This article originally appeared in the Fort Smith Times Record: What does Kentucky transfer Adou Thiero bring to Arkansas basketball?
