Arkansas basketball lands commitment from Kentucky transfer Adou Thiero

Former Kentucky forward Adou Thiero committed Monday to Arkansas where he will rejoin Coach John Calipari.

Thiero visited Fayetteville last Wednesday. He had narrowed his list of schools to Arkansas, North Carolina, Pittsburgh, Indiana and a possible return to Kentucky before choosing the Razorbacks.

He averaged 7.2 points and 5 rebounds per game in 25 games, including 19 starts, in 2023-24. He was second on the team with 27 blocked shots.

Thiero, 6-8 and 222 pounds, had 6 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists in the two victories by the Wildcats over Arkansas earlier this year.

Thiero played in 45 games in two seasons at Kentucky and averaged 5 points and 3.6 rebounds. He shot 46.6% from the field, 32.3% from three-point range and 76.6% from the free-throw line. He also had 33 blocks, 26 steals and 36 assists.

He was an ESPN 4-star recruit as a senior at Quaker Valley High School in Leetsdale, Pa., in 2022. He averaged 23.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 3.9 steals and 2.3 blocks per game as a high school senior.

Thiero is the seventh commitment to Arkansas since Calipari was hired April 10. Five of those players had ties to Calipari at Kentucky. Two are transferring from the Wildcats’ program and three are freshmen who previously committed to Kentucky.

Center Zvonimir Ivisic will transfer to Arkansas from Kentucky along with Adou. The Razorbacks have signed former Kentucky high school recruits Karter Knox, Boogie Fland and Billy Richmond.