Arizona switch Oumar Ballo introduced his dedication to Indiana as we speak.
Ballo, a 7-foot, 260-pound heart who’s from Koulikoro, Mali, has one season of eligibility remaining and lately accomplished a go to to Bloomington.
He selected the Hoosiers over curiosity from Arkansas, Louisville, Kansas State, North Carolina, Florida and others. Within the newest 247Sports switch portal rankings, Ballo is taken into account the No. 1 prospect within the portal.
Ballo averaged 12.9 factors, 10.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocked photographs in 25.9 minutes per recreation final season for the Wildcats.
He started his profession at Gonzaga and can flip 22 in July.
In 132 profession video games between Arizona and Gonzaga, Ballo has averaged 9.6 factors, 6.6 rebounds and 1.1 blocked photographs in 19.8 minutes per recreation.
He owns a profession subject aim proportion of 64.6 and is a profession 56.4 % free throw shooter.
Right here’s a scouting report on Ballo from C.J. Moore of The Athletic:
Ballo is among the greatest in school basketball at carving out area within the put up and giving his guards a giant goal. He’s excellent in any offense that performs to the put up pin. Arizona constructed its protection round Ballo’s means to guard the rim and take up a variety of area in drop protection. He doesn’t block a variety of photographs (1.3 per recreation) however he’s laborious to attain over and is an elite rebounder.
He can get picked on in drop protection in opposition to proficient guards. The recipe to beat Arizona was with guards who knew how one can deal with the drop and/or bigs who may pop. Foot velocity is at all times going to be a problem. Ballo was a double-double machine, averaging 12.9 factors and 10.1 rebounds per recreation. He shot 65.8 % from the sector however his effectivity takes a knock due to his poor free-throw taking pictures — a career-low 49.5 % as a senior. His utilization charge went down as Arizona leaned extra on its guards this season, however Ballo is proficient sufficient to have an offense run by means of him.
And Ballo’s bio from final season at Arizona:
2023-24 (Redshirt Senior Season)
• First Staff All Pac-12• Pac-12 All-Defensive Staff• Arizona profession chief in Area Objective Pct. (64.6%)• Pac-12 Event All-Event Staff• One in all 10 gamers in Arizona historical past with 1,000 profession factors and 800 profession rebounds as a Wildcat• His 34 profession double-doubles are tied for third in Arizona historical past• His 20 double-doubles in the course of the 2023-24 season are tied for third-most in a season in Arizona historical past• He joins Deandre Ayton (24), Al Fleming (22) and Jordan Hill (20) as the one Wildcats to register 20 or extra double-doubles in a season• Ranks seventh in Arizona historical past with 134 profession blocked photographs• Ranks eighth in Arizona historical past in profession rebounds (830)• Grew to become the 54th participant in Arizona historical past to attain 1,000 factors• Had a string of 9 straight video games with a double-double in the course of the month of February, the longest by a Wildcat since Al Fleming in 1974-75• Shot 65.8% from the ground for the yr, the second-best single season proportion in Arizona historical past; he additionally owns the third-best proportion of 64.7% in the course of the 2022-23 season• Pac-12 Participant of the Week on Dec. 26 after averaging 15.5 factors and 16.5 rebounds in opposition to Alabama and FAU• Pulled down 21 rebounds in opposition to FAU, essentially the most since Jordan Hill had 22 in 2008; his 9 offensive rebounds within the recreation had been essentially the most by a Wildcat since Derrick Williams had 9 in 2011• Additionally certainly one of 5 gamers named to USBWA Oscar Robertson Nationwide Participant of the Week listing on Dec. 27• Preseason All-American• Preseason First Staff All Pac-12• Preseason Pac-12 Participant of the Yr (ESPN.com; Blue Ribbon Journal)• Naismith Trophy Preseason Watch Listing• Wood Award Preseason Watch Listing
Filed to: Oumar Ballo, Switch portal
