After four strong years at Rutgers, Cliff Omoruyi will be transferring from Rutgers. Omoruyi has been contacted by many high-major programs and the list continues to grow by the day. His great defense and finishing around the rim make him a prime target. This has led many to wonder, where will Cliff Omoruyi transfer?
Where Will Cliff Omoruyi Transfer?
St. John’s
One of the programs most interested in Omoruyi is St. John’s. Omoruyi was expected to visit on Monday, but it had to be moved due to an academic conflict. He will likely visit the school within the next week. Omoruyi would be a great fit for the Johnnies. A few weeks ago, head coach Rick Pitino complained that his team was not athletic enough. This would change with the addition of Omoruyi. He is a dynamic athlete who can throw down vicious dunks and protect the rim at a high clip.
Currently, the Johnnies seem like early favorites to land Omoruyi’s services. He is going to visit there and it is still close to his home in New Jersey. They also have an abundance of playing time, strong NIL, and a legendary coach. However, this process will likely take some time. Omoruyi is a hot commodity and will probably take a few visits before making his decision in a few weeks.
.@RutgersMBB transfer Cliff Omoruyi won't visit St. John's today b/c he has a class but is expected to visit within the next week or so, per source https://t.co/VzXxn6CnXd
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) March 25, 2024
UConn
With star center Donovan Clingan likely off to the NBA after this season, UConn will be looking to replace its big man. Omoruyi would replace Clingan nicely. Clingan is a great defender and very few could replace what he does, one of the few is Omoruyi.
Not only does the move make sense from a basketball perspective, but it also makes sense from a personal perspective because Omoruyi would not be far from New Jersey, where he has lived since he was 14. This move could take some time. UConn is still in the NCAA Tournament and likely won’t be able to recruit transfers until they are knocked out. If Clingan decides to leave after the season, I would expect there to be serious interest from the Huskies.
Alabama
A third school that I expect to be in the Omoruyi transfer sweepstakes in Alabama. The Crimson Tide is losing starting center Grant Nelson and will need an athletic big man to replace him. Enter Omoruyi. Nelson, a solid shooter, was a solid fit in Nate Oats’ high-tempo system. Omoruyi is not nearly the shooter but is athletic and would be able to find a spot in the lineup. Oats is also an incredible recruiter and has been using the transfer portal to help build his teams over the past few seasons.
Similarly to UConn, Alabama is still in the NCAA tournament. This means Oats will not be able to fully focus on recruiting in the portal for another few days. We are also unsure of Nelson’s status. He can come back for another season due to his ‘COVID Year’ but it is not known if he will use it or not.
