Penn State Men’s Basketball: Nittany Lions Add Miami Center from Transfer Portal

New Penn State head coach Mike Rhoades continued to fill out his first roster in State College on Monday afternoon, adding 6-foot-11 former Miami center Favour Aire out of the NCAA Transfer Portal. Penn State hosted Aire for an official visit earlier in the month and was generally seen as the favorite to land Aire in the days since then.

As the Hurricanes made the Final Four this past season, Aire generally did not see the floor much, averaging just shy of three minutes per contest over the 14 games that Aire played in.

It remains to be seen where Aire will shake out in Penn State’s rotation at the forward and big man position as he joins a sizable room that includes Temple transfer forward Zach Hicks, Lafayette transfer forward Leo O’Boyle, North Carolina transfer forward Puff Johnson, Georgetown transfer center Qudus Wahab and returning forward Demetrius Lilley.

During the recruiting process Aire was rated as a three-star prospect from the District Heights area in Maryland.

“Has a top notch motor,” 247 Network recruiting analyst Jerry Meyer said in 2021. “Runs the floor well and possesses a commitment to defend and rebound. Is a quick and strong two-foot leaper. Tracks down shot blocking opportunities. Will be able to effectively defend ball screen situations. Is a dangerous offensive rebounder. Not a ball handling threat nor a jump shooting threat at this point. Does have a reliable right hand jump hook. Primarily feeds off dump down passes for dunks and put back opportunities. Is a raw prospect all around but is developing on both sides of the basketball. Defensive is ahead of the offensive at this point.”