Auburn head basketball coach Bruce Pearl won't be bringing UCF transfer Moustapha Thiam to make his way to the Plains. As the War Rapport's Mike Gittens relayed, it's hesitation from the program's brain trust.
"Source close to the program reached out and explained while there is interest in Thiam there are 'factors currently involved in garnering his commitment the program is uncomfortable with,'" Gittens wrote.
"Not completely ruling Thiam out but definitely makes his commitment unlikely."
Gittens initially saw Thiam as a sensible pursuit for Pearl and Co.
"UCF Center Moustapha Thiam has just entered the transfer portal. The true freshman from Senegal averaged 10 points and 6 rebounds per game for the Knights. Would absolutely not be surprised to see Auburn make a play here," Gittens wrote before getting that update.
The Orlando Sentinel's Matt Murschel reports that Thiam is likely headed to Cincinnati.
"UCF center Moustapha Thiam has entered the transfer portal and likely leaning towards Big 12 rival Cincinnati, a person with knowledge of the situation told the Sentinel," Murschel wrote.
"Thiam could receive a multimillion-dollar NIL deal.
"Sam Kayser of LeagueRDY was the first to report the move on Wednesday."
Pearl's Tigers are coming off their second Final Four appearance in program history. After several early exits from the NCAA Tournament, Auburn made a much-needed third-weekend appearance a year after Alabama's first Final Four.
With Johni Broome, Dylan Cardwell, Denver Jones, Chaney Johnson, and Miles Kelly, at least, departing this offseason, Pearl needs help.
Mississippi State's KeShawn Murphy and UCF's Keyshawn Hall, not to mention JUCO transfer Emeka Opurum, are a good start.