Moustapha Thiam, a five-star recruit committed to UCF, has made the decision to reclassify to the Class of 2024. He will be joining the Knights this summer in preparation for the upcoming 2024-25 season. According to Jamie Shaw of On3, Thiam’s reclassification moves him up to the No. 30 overall prospect in this year’s class, whereas he was previously ranked as the No. 1 center in the 2025 class. Thiam is now ranked as the No. 7 center by On3.
5⭐️ Moustapha Thiam, On3’s No. 1 ranked center in 2025, has reclassified to 2024 and will enroll at UCF this June per @CP25CoachRicks
The 7-1 Thiam moves to the No. 30 overall player in the 2024 class and the No. 7 ranked center: https://t.co/1YtwP2RF9W pic.twitter.com/YEakPDUgSG
— Jamie Shaw (@JamieShaw5) June 5, 2024
In the recent spring season, Thiam showcased his skills playing for Austin Rivers SE Elite in AAU competition, averaging an impressive 15.2 points and 7.2 steals per game, according to ESPN. Notably, he also demonstrated his prowess as a rim protector by averaging 2.1 blocks per game.
Head Coach Johnny Dawkins has been busy strengthening the UCF roster this offseason with notable additions like Mikey Williams, JJ Taylor (from Memphis), Jordan Ivy-Curry (from UTSA), Keyshawn Hall (from George Mason), and Benny Williams (from Syracuse).
UCF recently concluded its inaugural season in the Big 12 Conference, finishing 12th with a record of 17-16 overall and 7-11 in conference play.
Returning guards Jaylin Sellers (averaging 15.9 PPG) and Darius Johnson (averaging 15.2 PPG) are expected to play key roles for the Knights, having led the team in scoring last season.
Despite a slightly above .500 record, UCF secured notable victories against formidable opponents such as No. 3 Kansas and No. 23 Texas Tech.
