Weeks after entering the transfer portal, Ole Miss transfer center Moussa Cisse committed to Memphis. The former five-star recruit started his career with the Tigers.
Cisse joins a talented portal class for Memphis. He is the seventh commitment, joining George Mason transfer Baraka Okojie, Texas transfer Tyrese Hunter, Tulsa transfer PJ Haggerty, Illinois transfer Dain Dainja, SMU transfer Tyreek Smith, and Wichita State transfer Colby Rogers.
How does Cisse fit into what Memphis is building this off-season?
Who is Moussa Cisse?
Moussa Cisse was a composite top-ten prospect in the class of 2020, even after reclassifying up a year. Cisse committed to Memphis out of high school in July 2020, joining a top-25 recruiting class.
The 7’0 senior center spent two years at Oklahoma State and one year at Ole Miss before returning to Memphis. He has one year of eligibility remaining.
Cisse got a late start to the season due to being a two-time transfer. The NCAA granted him eligibility in late November and he played his first game – conveniently enough – against Memphis on December 2nd. Cisse made 17 starts and played 26 games in an Ole Miss uniform, averaging 17.5 minutes per contest.
This season, he averaged 4.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, and 0.7 steals per game. He shot 55.8% from the floor and 26.3% from the free throw line. Cisse missed his only two attempts from beyond the arc and shot 10/38 from the charity stripe.
Cisse’s Game
Moussa Cisse is a physically imposing and athletic center primarily known for his rim protection ability. Cisse has an extra-long wingspan, great mobility, and high level feel defensively. This combination of traits allow him to bother or block shots that most other big man wouldn’t be able to. He finished the season with a 8.4% block rate.
Cisse is a strong rebounder on both ends of the court, ending with a 16.9% rebound rate. He uses the strength in his 7’0, 230 pound frame to bully opposing players for position underneath the basket. His long wingspan allows him to reach over the top and grab the ball even when he’s slightly out of posiiton.
Cisse puts in a lot of effort on the glass and is always working. He knows where and when to place himself for rebounds and consistently has solid boxouts. His athleticism also granted him success on put back attempts, as he doesn’t need much momentum to dunk the ball back in the basket.
The big man isn’t one to run your offense through, considering he doesn’t have much of a post-up bag to rely on. He does possess soft touch at the rim, however, where he shot 64%. He has soft touch and likes getting to a post hook in the 5-10 foot area of the paint. Furthermore, Cisse makes himself a great target as a PNR roll man. He sets physical screens and rolls hard to the rim, where his size and athleticism make him a phenomenal lob target. He scored 1.33 points per possession last season, finishing in the nation’s 85th percentile.
Cisse’s Fit
Moussa Cisse isn’t the most versatile center available in the transfer portal, but he offers a prototype that Memphis needs. A rim-running, shot-blocking big is something this roster is missing. Cisse would offer a change of pace in the frontcourt and would thrive in a back up role behind Illinois transfer Dain Dainja.
His size and athleticism make for an intriguing pairing with a playmaker like Baraka Okojie, who showed high feel in his freshman season with George Mason. The Tigers are looking to cover a lot of bases with their transfer portal class, adding players who bring a variety of things to the table. Penny Hardaway is looking to blend experience and talent as he aims to find a roster that fits his philosophy and can live up to the Memphis basketball standard.
