The North Carolina Tar Heels need to replenish their frontcourt and are reportedly eyeing one of the bigger centers in the transfer portal. According to Sherrel McMillan of Inside Carolina, Rutgers transfer Cliff Omoruyi is scheduled to land in Chapel Hill (NC) for a visit with the Tar Heels on May 2.
Former Rutgers Big Man A Major Target For ACC Power House
North Carolina went 29-8 this past season and won the ACC regular season crown for the first time since 2019. But the Tar Heels were ousted in Sweet 16 by Alabama. The loss meant the end of the Armando Bacot era. With five collegiate seasons, Bacot solidified himself as one of the best big men in Carolina’s illustrious history.
Carolina also lost James Okonkwo after one season, as he transferred to Akron. Okonkwo played 44 minutes in 15 appearances, so he wouldn’t likely be a factor. Still, his departure and the possibility of Harrison Ingram bolting for the NBA leave the Tar Heels really short-handed up front.
UNC does still have junior-to-be Jalen Washington. Washington, a consensus top 55 recruit in 2022, served as Bacot’s primary backup. The 6-10 big showed massive improvement on both ends of the floor and was highly efficient around the rim. But he has yet to play significant minutes.
Cliff Omoruyi To Visit Chapel Hill
While McMillan said that the Tar Heels are evaluating several bigs in the transfer market, he added that Omoruyi will be the first to visit.
Omoruyi had a solid collegiate career, playing four years at Rutgers, and is one of the best players currently available on the transfer portal. Omorayi is one of the best players to suit up for the Scarlett Knights, ranking fourth in rebounds all-time in program history with 933, fourth in field-goal percentage (54.9), and sixth in blocks (221). The 6-11 240-pounder has one year of eligibility left.
Omoruyi saw his production and minutes decline this past season. He produced five double-doubles and averaged 10.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks.
Omoruyi is a consensus top-25 transfer. 247Sports ranks him as the eighth-best transfer. Meanwhile, The Athletic has him at No. 22 in their rankings, and he lands at No. 13 in CBS Sports rankings.
The 2023-24 All-Big Ten Defense selection is an outstanding shot-blocker and rebounder. However, he is limited offensively.
Here is what 247Sports director of scouting Adam Finkelstein had to say about Omoruyi:
He’s a physically dominant big man who stands just shy of 7-feet with long arms and a chiseled frame.
Omoruyi’s best attribute is his ability to protect the rim. He finished 3rd overall in the country last year in block percentage, at 12.72% per KenPom, and has been number one overall in the country in league play in each of the last two years. He balances his shot-blocking with an ability to clean the glass, as he has finished inside the top five players in the country in defensive rebounding rate (in league play) in each of the last two years as well.
Offensively, Omoruyi does the vast majority of his damage in the paint, attempting 84% of his total shots at the rim per Pivot Analysis. While his hands were an area of concern in high school, they’ve made moderate gains in the last four years. He’s still a lob threat and a big target rolling off a screen or rim-running. He’s also a consistent threat on the offensive glass, but less skilled away from the basket. He’s a marginal free-throw shooter at best (career 59%), not a floor-spacing threat, or an especially reliable decision-maker or passer trailing the play.
Omoruyi’s Other Options
North Carolina is not Omoruyi’s only option. The Nigerian national is reportedly still looking at 11 other schools, including Alabama, Baylor, Georgetown, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kansas State, Mississippi State, Oregon, St. John’s, UCLA, and Washington.
Per Rutgers Wire, Omoruyi has visited Georgetown, Kansas State, and Alabama. So, UNC will be visit No.4, and UCLA could get another visit.
