Arizona Center Oumar Ballo to Utilize Extra Year of Eligibility, Won't Return to Wildcats
Arizona center Oumar Ballo has decided to utilize his extra year of eligibility but will not be returning to play for the Wildcats.
Ballo, a native of Mali, is entering his sixth season of college basketball after redshirting at Gonzaga and playing one season with Arizona.
In his senior season at Arizona, Ballo averaged 12.9 points and 10.1 rebounds, earning him First Team All Pac-12 and Pac-12 All-Defensive Team honors.
Leaving Arizona as one of the few players with both 1,000 career points and 800 career rebounds, the 7-footer is expected to be a highly sought-after transfer portal pickup.
If Ballo had chosen to return to Arizona, it could have posed a risk of losing additional players to the transfer portal, as the program has already seen other players depart.
Arizona will still have returning centers Dylan Anderson, Motiejus Krivas, and forward Henri Veesaar, along with incoming recruit Emmanuel Stephen.
Seniors with remaining eligibility like Caleb Love and Pelle Larsson have yet to announce their NBA Draft intentions.
