Recruiting momentum is building as Indiana basketball receives prediction for top transfer portal prospect

The Indiana basketball program continues to build recruiting momentum in the transfer portal. While it has yet to receive a commitment, Indiana is now near or at the front for numerous key portal targets.

After two crystal ball predictions were submitted in Indiana’s favor for Myles Rice and then Kanaan Carlyle, a third has been submitted — this time for the No. 1 overall transfer portal prospect.

247Sports national analyst Travis Branham entered a prediction for Indiana to land Arizona transfer center Oumar Ballo.

Ballo is expected on campus April 14-16 for a visit.

Ballo is coming off of his senior season in which he was named on the All-Pac 12 First Team. He averaged 12.9 points, 10.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game this season in 26 minutes a game. He shot 65.8 percent from the field but 49.5 percent from the foul line on 5.3 attempts per game.

The 7-foot, 260-pound center is a terrific rebounder and defender. He is best on the offensive glass as he led the Pac-12 in offensive rebound rate (15.1) and first in total rebound rate (21.1). Defensively, his block rate (5.0) was fifth in the Pac-12. He also led the league in defensive rating (92.7).

Ballo had 20 double-doubles this year and five games with at least 14 rebounds. He also scored in double-figures in 31 games.

Over the past two seasons, Ballo has been a staple in the lineup starting all 71 games he played in. In total, he had 108 appearances in three seasons with Arizona.

As a junior, Ballo averaged 14.2 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game. He had 12 double-doubles and 29 double-digit scoring games.

He also had 15 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks against Indiana in Las Vegas.

Ballo started his career at Gonzaga where he redshirted his first season and appeared in 24 games his second season.

He also has two other visits scheduled: Louisville from April 16-18 and Kansas State from April 19-21. He also plans to visit North Carolina and Florida.

Ballo has one year of eligibility remaining.

Indiana has been on the forefront of big man development in the past two years with the growth by both Trayce Jackson-Davis and Kel’el Ware. And, this offseason Ware made it known that Mike Woodson is ‘true to his word’.

“In April of last year Coach Woodson and I sat in his office and he told me he was going to help me get to the next level, and if there is one thing we know about Woody, is that he is true to his word,” Ware told 247Sports National Analyst Travis Branham. “I owe a lot to Coach Woodson and the entire coaching staff, Coach Yasir, Coach Kenya and Coach Brian.”

SEE ALSO: Breaking down each upcoming transfer portal visit for Indiana basketball

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