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Wake Forest’s starting center Olivier Sarr has decided to use his final year of eligibility elsewhere and transfer to Kentucky to play under John Calipari.
New beginnings @KentuckyMBB @UKCoachCalipari #LaFamilia ⚪️ pic.twitter.com/CBRsXsGgsP
— Olivier Sarr (@sarr_olivier) May 6, 2020
Sarr was recruited by Danny Manning and his staff, and was very loyal to them. New Wake Forest basketball coach Steve Forbes made his best pitch to keep him, inciting the wrath of Kentucky fans after insinuating that Wake Forest was far superior to Kentucky academically.
My favorite quote from this one was something like “why would you want to go to Wake for 3 years and then graduate from a place like Kentucky?”
— Deacon Sports (@DeaconSports) May 5, 2020
In the end the allure of playing for a blue-blood program under the bright lights was too much for Sarr to turn down.
Sarr will almost certainly have a chance to play in the NCAA Tournament, which he never got to experience at Wake, and likely wouldn't have if he had stayed for a rebuilding year in his senior year either.
There is some question as to whether or not Sarr would have to sit a year, or would be granted a waiver and would be immediately eligible. Given that Kentucky is the school in question, I fully expect the NCAA to grant his waiver request.
The other option is that he could go back to Europe and play for a year if his waiver request is not granted.
One interesting thing to note: Olivier Sarr’s case for a waiver is pretty straightforward, but he said he won’t sit out if he doesn’t get it.
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) May 1, 2020
“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.”
We thank Olivier for contributions to Wake Forest, and wish him nothing but the best going forward.
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