Arizona's Oumar Ballo Commits to Indiana After Entering CBB Transfer Portal

Former Arizona center Oumar Ballo has committed to Indiana, according to ESPN's Jeff Borzello.

Ballo entered the NCAA transfer portal after averaging 12.9 points and 10.1 rebounds per game in 36 starts with the Wildcats last season.

Heading into his fifth year of college eligibility, Ballo was ranked as the top available name in the transfer portal by Borzello.

He will now provide a scoring boost for a Hoosiers team that missed the NCAA Tournament last season.

Ballo's NIL asking rate was $1.2 million, according to Jeff Goodman.

Ballo confirmed the transfer news on his Instagram.

Ballo ranked top six in the nation with 365 rebounds, and top five with 65.8 shooting from the field, as he helped the Wildcats earn an NCAA Tournament bid this spring.

All signs point to that shooting accuracy continuing in Bloomington. In one season with Gonzaga and three with Arizona, Ballo has never recorded a field goal rate of lower than 62.2 percent.

Ballo is the second highly-ranked transfer committed to Indiana this offseason.

Pac-12 Freshman of the Year Myles Rice announced his commitment to the Hoosiers earlier this week after helping Washington State make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2008. Rice was ranked by On3 as the No. 17 guard available in the transfer portal.

Ballo and Rice combine to give Indiana the No. 2 transfer class in the nation, according to 247Sports.

The Hoosiers are additionally adding five-star forward Bryson Tucker, who was ranked No. 24 in the 247 Sports recruit rankings.

Indiana will also welcome back 2023-24 starters in forward Malik Reneau, guard Trey Galloway and forward Mackenzie Mgbako. Head coach Mike Woodson will also return for a fourth season.

The transfer commitments from Ballo and Rice represent a turnaround for Woodson and the Hoosiers after the decommitment of five-star recruit Liam McNeeley.

Indiana will now hope the new additions can help the program return to the NCAA Tournament, where the Hoosiers made it to the second round in 2023.