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Adou Thiero bids adieu to Arkansas (among other deadline updates)

Jack PIlgrimby: Jack Pilgrim05/28/25
Arkansas' Adou Thiero, DJ Wagner, and Zvonimir Ivisic during the Kentucky game - Dr. Michael Huang, Kentucky Sports Radio
Arkansas' Adou Thiero, DJ Wagner, and Zvonimir Ivisic during the Kentucky game - Dr. Michael Huang, Kentucky Sports Radio

Otega Oweh is back for the Wildcats, but he wasn’t the only player to make a big-time announcement ahead of the withdrawal deadline.

Adou Thiero signed with Kentucky as an under-the-radar three-star out of Leetsdale, PA, choosing the Wildcats over Maryland, Xavier, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh back in May 2022. Just 6-5, 180 pounds at the time, he was seen as a late bloomer with serious long-term potential, growing 10 inches between his freshman and senior seasons of high school — and still sprouting up.

Three years later, spending two seasons in Lexington and one in Fayetteville following John Calipari’s departure to Arkansas, Thiero is ready to make the jump to the NBA. Coming off a breakout year for the Razorbacks that saw him average 15.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.6 steals — all career-highs — he’s decided to keep his name in the draft ahead of the 11:59 p.m. ET deadline.

Thiero, now 6-8 and 220 pounds, is seen as a late-first- or early-second-round draft selection, currently ranked No. 30 overall among draft-eligible prospects, according to ESPN.

His decision to stay in the draft comes following Karter Knox — another former Wildcat pledge — withdrew while former UK signee Boogie Fland pulled his name out and transferred to Florida. Zvonimir Ivisic transferred to Illinois this offseason while DJ Wagner and Billy Richmond decided to run it back in Fayetteville. As for other familiar faces previously set to join Kentucky’s 2024-25 roster before Coach Cal’s departure, Jayden Quaintance is right back where he started, signed on to play for Mark Pope in Lexington in 2025-26.

Thiero previously averaged 5.0 points and 3.6 rebounds in 45 games as a Wildcat.

Tahaad Pettiford returns to Auburn

Speaking of important SEC news, Bruce Pearl and the Tigers got their star guard back following a productive freshman campaign on The Plains. Initially testing the waters, Pettiford decided to withdraw ahead of the deadline and return to Auburn for 2025-26.

“I was happy to go through the process, getting feedback from NBA teams,” he told ESPN. “Going back to Auburn is a better situation for me. I see myself being a higher pick next year. It wasn’t 100% this year, so I didn’t want to take that chance. Being a short guard, it won’t be easy to play in the league, but I know I can do it. It’s maybe not the right time.”

Playing in 38 games for the Tigers, Pettiford averaged 11.6 points, 3.0 assists and 2.2 rebounds per contest while shooting 42.1 percent from the field, 36.6 percent from three and 80.4 percent from the line.

RJ Luis is staying in the draft

One of the biggest names in the portal will not be available. Leaving St. John’s as a star under Rick Pitino, RJ Luis has decided to keep his name in the draft, despite being pursued by the likes of North Carolina, Kansas, Ole Miss, Villanova and Georgetown, among others.

He was named Big East Player of the Year and a Second-Team All-American after averaging 18.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists per contest for the Red Storm.

Former UK target Jaron Pierre goes back to school

Remember Jaron Pierre? Kentucky recruited him out of the portal before adding Denzel Aberdeen. Instead, the Jacksonville State transfer signed with SMU and has since decided to pull his name out of the draft.

He averaged 21.6 points per contest last season before making the move to the ACC.

We like our withdrawal announcement a little more than anyone else’s ahead of the midnight deadline.

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2025-08-03