Olivier Sarr enters transfer portal; Wake Forest writer calls UK “perfect fit”

Wake Forest Demon Deacons big man, Olivier Sarr, has entered the transfer portal, per ESPN’s Jeff Borzello.

Sarr originally planned on returning ton Wake Forest if an internal hire was made, but the Deacons opted to hire East Tennessee State coach Steve Forbes instead.

“It’s actually a tough decision. I want to give Wake Forest a chance and listen to what he has to say. I’m entering the transfer portal because I want to listen to all the options. I want to be able to pick my own coach, not have one chosen for me,” Sarr said to Jeff Borzello.

Sarr also explained how crazy it was that Kentucky fans were reaching out to him before he even entered his name into the portal:

“I’ve never experienced anything like that; it was crazy, It was funny and all that, but it got to a point where it was a little bit too much. Some Wake fans replied. I loved the loyalty from the Deacon fans. I love them, I appreciate what they did for me for three years. But Kentucky fans are really eager and thirsty for players.”

Sarr also told Borzello that he does not plan to sit out one year, being that he is not a grad-transfer. “I could go pro overseas, play one year in the EuroLeague, somewhere to get ready for the NBA. There’s no way I sit out.”

In addition, KSR spoke with former Kentucky writer Les Johns, who now covers Wake Forest and thinks Lexington could be a great spot for Sarr.

“From a pure basketball perspective, it honestly seems like a perfect fit,” Johns told KSR.

From the sound of it, it sounds like Sarr wants a place to prepare himself for the jump to the NBA, and what better place to develop as a big man than Kentucky?

Sarr averaged 13.7 points and 9 rebounds per game for Wake Forest and was named Third team All-ACC.

Whoever gets Sarr is getting an instant-impact big man who can be an all-conference player in any league. Will Kentucky be able to win out in the end?