His decision comes after the rising junior told ESPN’s Jeff Borzello on April 19 that his final list of suitors included a return Kentucky, Pittsburgh, North Carolina, Indiana, and Calipari’s Razorbacks.

He took visits to Pittsburgh, Arkansas and was pictured meeting with North Carolina head coach Hubert Davis in Lexington but will stick with Calipari who also coached his father Almamy Thiero at Memphis.

After playing limited minutes as a freshman at Kentucky, averaging just 2.3 points per game with 1.9 rebounds, Thiero put on 22 pounds and even grew two inches, helping him become the Wildcat’s most physical player this past season.

He missed eight games due to injury but when healthy, played in 25 games and started 19, in which he averaged 7.2 points per game, 5.0 rebounds, 1.1 blocks, and 1.1 assists. He shot 49.2 percent from the field and 31.8 percent from three and became the Cats’ most reliable lob threat.

Thiero logged a double-double, scoring 16 points and pulling down 13 rebounds in the UK’s Champions Classic loss to Kansas, had 15 points in a loss to Gonzaga, and scored 14 while pulling down eight rebounds in a road win over Auburn.

He will have two years of remaining eligibility but is widely considered a projected first round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.

The Pittsburgh Area native who is the transfer portal’s 31st best player and fifth best transfer portal prospect, is the second former Wildcat following Calipari to Arkansas, joining Zvonimir Ivisic. Calipari also signed three of his class of 2024 commits who initially chose Kentucky in Boogie Fland, Billy Richmond, and Karter Knox.

Thiero is the fourth of seven 2023-24 Wildcats to enter the transfer portal to find a new home, joining Ivisic (Arkansas), Joey Hart (Ball State) and Aaron Bradshaw (Ohio State). Jordan Burks, D.J. Wagner and Ugonna Onyenso remain uncommitted.