What the Addition of Moussa Cisse Means for OSU Hoops

Former five-star recruit and Memphis transfer Moussa Cisse committed to Oklahoma State on Thursday and — whoo boy! — OSU’s 2021 roster suddenly looks prettay, prettay interesting.

Cisse is the second former five-star to transfer in to OSU this offseason (joining Bryce Thompson), and he gives OSU a dynamic big man to load the Pokes even more in the frontcourt. Here’s what it means.

Cisse the shot-blocker

More on Cisse’s potential role and fit below, but Cisse the talent is worth its own section. He’s an elite shot-blocker. KenPom.com had him with a 10.5% block rate last season, which rated 22nd nationally … as a true freshman. He was also 77th in defensive rebounding rate and 41st in offensive rebounding rate. It’s hard to overstate how big a deal his presence in the post will be for OSU.

Lineup flexibility

OSU last season played a lot of four-guard lineups with Kalib Boone at the center position. That was a luxury afforded to them in part because Cade Cunningham, a point guard, happens to be 6-foot-8 in shoes.

Adding Cisse should give Mike Boynton and his staff similar flexibility this season. If OSU wants to go guard-heavy with Bryce-Avery-Likekele-Keylan-Kalib, it can. If it wants to go three-guard with two bigs in Kalib and Cisse, it can. If it wants different skill sets at the 4, it can mix and match Kalib or Cisse at the 5 with MA Moncrieffe, Woody Newton or Tyreek Smith rotating in at the 4.

Kalib was foul-prone last seeason as was Cisse, so having two big men who can block shots at a high level but have a tendency to get into foul trouble is a big thing.

Transfermation destination

(…. See what I did there? Transfer and transformation combined into one word? Is this too much dad joke to handle on a Thursday?)

Truth is, Cisse is massive for OSU’s potential under Boynton. OSU could develop into a real reclamation destination where former top recruits rebuild their stock. If Bryce Thompson becomes a star and Cisse develops into the NBA talent many expect he’ll eventually become, OSU suddenly gets credit for that and, as a result, other former five-stars may look at OSU as a path to reclaim their former pro prospects.