USF men’s basketball lands Mississippi State transfer Prince Oduro

Two years ago, after a promising rookie season at Siena, 6-foot-8 power forward Prince Oduro nearly transferred to USF, even visiting Tampa before settling on Mississippi State.

Yet no prospect truly is gone forever in the transfer-portal era. To swipe some hoops vernacular, the Bulls have landed Oduro via the double bounce.

The 245-pound Toronto native, a prep teammate of Bulls junior David Collins, confirmed Saturday he is transferring to USF. For now, Oduro must sit next season with two years of eligibility thereafter, but could get an NCAA waiver allowing him to play immediately.

“I just wanted to be somewhere where the coaches believed in you,” said Oduro, who teamed with Collins at First Love Christian Academy in Pennsylvania. “(USF) came around a second time, and this time they came harder than they did the first time.”

Oduro, who fills the scholarship created by the recent transfer of forward B.J. Mack, adds significant depth to a position where the Bulls had little last season.

A member of Canada’s under-19 team that won a gold medal at the 2017 FIBA World Cup, Oduro averaged 9.1 points and 5.1 rebounds as a freshman at Siena, making the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) all-rookie team.

He then transferred to Mississippi State, encountering a talent logjam in the low post. After sitting out the 2018-19 season, he made only 21 appearances this past year, averaging 1.2 points and 0.9 rebounds.

Upon deciding to transfer again, he was unable to visit any schools due to the coronavirus, but had virtual meetings with the Bulls, Virginia Commonwealth, Wichita State, New Mexico and St. Bonaventure.

“At this point in my career, I feel I need to be in an underdog situation,” Oduro said. “(The Bulls) are one piece from being where they need to be.”