Clifford Omoruyi, Former Rutgers Big Man, Confirms Visit to UNC Chapel Hill

Clifford Omoruyi, a former Rutgers giant, has confirmed his visit to UNC Chapel Hill, making him a top target for Tar Heels basketball coach Hubert Davis. The 6-foot-11, 240-pound center from Nigeria entered the transfer portal on March 20 with one year of eligibility remaining. Omoruyi averaged 10.5 points and 8.3 rebounds in the previous season, leading the Big Ten with 2.9 blocks per game.

Omoruyi's visit to Chapel Hill is his last before deciding where to spend his graduate campaign. He has previously visited Alabama, Georgetown, and Kansas State. The skilled big man confirmed his arrival in Chapel Hill on social media, posting a clip on Instagram from the Raleigh-Durham International Airport on Thursday.

UNC basketball head coach Hubert Davis and his staff have made Omoruyi their primary target in their quest for a big man to potentially serve being the program's next starting center. The Tar Heels are looking to replace outbound legend Armando Bacot. With Tennessee transfer Jonas Aidoo committing to Arkansas, Omoruyi is now UNC's only current transfer portal target at the center position.

247Sports National Scouting Director Adam Finkelstein praised Omoruyi's abilities, stating, "He's a physically dominant big man who stands just shy of 7-feet with long arms and a chiseled frame." Finkelstein also noted, "Omoruyi's best attribute is his ability to protect the rim. He balances his shot-blocking with an ability to clean the glass..."

Omoruyi's offensive game is primarily limited to the paint, where he attempts 84% of his total shots. While he is a marginal free-throw shooter with a career 59% average and not a floor-spacing threat, Omoruyi is a consistent threat on the offensive glass. His rim protection and defensive rebounding skills have placed him in the top five players in the country in defensive rebounding rate in each of the last two years.

UNC's returning production at the center position is limited to Jalen Washington, who averaged 3.3 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 0.6 blocks in 8.3 minutes per game. The Tar Heels basketball program is currently waiting on word from Omoruyi regarding his decision. He listed 12 finalists last week, including UNC, Alabama, Baylor, Georgetown, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kansas State, Mississippi State, Oregon, St. John's, UCLA, and Washington.

The news about Omoruyi's visit to UNC Chapel Hill and Aidoo's commitment to Arkansas broke on Monday, April 30, 2024. As a two-time Big Ten All-Defensive Team selection and former four-star prep at Roselle Catholic (N.J.), Omoruyi's skills and experience make him an attractive target for Coach Davis and the Tar Heels. UNC basketball has already secured another graduate, Jae'Lyn Withers, for one more season.

Key Takeaways

• Clifford Omoruyi, a 6'11" center, visits UNC Chapel Hill, a top target for Coach Hubert Davis.
• Omoruyi averaged 10.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks per game at Rutgers.
• UNC seeks Omoruyi to replace Armando Bacot, with Jonas Aidoo committing to Arkansas.
• Omoruyi excels in rim protection and defensive rebounding, with a strong shot-blocking ability.
• Omoruyi will decide on his graduate campaign after visiting UNC, with 12 schools on his list.