Penn State lands sophomore center Favour Aire in transfer portal
Penn State basketball welcomed Favour Aire, a transfer portal target from Miami, to campus this week for an official visit. By the weekend, the Nittany Lions welcomed him into the program.
Announcing his decision via social media, Aire has verbally committed to continue his career at Penn State. The 6-foot-11, 215-pound center has four years to play three, having just completed his freshman season with the Hurricanes.
More on that in a moment. First, from his Miami bio:
“Full name is Onosedeba Favour Aire … Name is pronounced On-Err-Seh-DAY-Bah FAY-Vurr EYE-Ray … Goes by Favour and nickname is Fav … Born July 21, 2003, in Abuja, Nigeria.”
Scouting Favour Aire
Aire appeared sparingly in his first season with the Hurricanes. He played in 14 games but, in all, saw action for only 39 minutes, registering a season-high nine minutes in a blowout win at Louisville last December. The largest opportunity for playing time also was his most productive. Against the Cardinals, he posted six points and grabbed three rebounds.
While Aire’s time with Miami didn’t work out, his stature through the recruiting process suggests plenty of potential. He was the No. 108-ranked prospect in the On3 Industry Ranking for the Class of 2022 with a four-star rating. He also was considered the No. 12-ranked center nationally and fourth-best prospect coming out of Maryland, having played his high school ball at Bishop McNamara outside Washington D.C.
Penn State commitment impact
The addition of Aire provides a much-needed boost to Penn State’s situation manning the paint. The Nittany Lions brought in center transfer Qudus Wahab from Georgetown in April, filling the first true center role on the roster.
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Aire represents a developmental heir to that role. Young and inexperienced, but boasting the size, length, and athleticism that made him such an appealing prospect coming out of high school, Aire could help spell Wahab.
On a roster that has featured a host of additions at the guard and wing spots, Aire has a frame Penn State can aim to help protect the paint at this level into the future.
With Aire’s addition, Penn State has two remaining scholarships to fill ahead of the 2023-24 season. Another target is set to visit campus this week.
Where things stand (11 scholarships filled, 2 scholarships open)
Certain – PG Ace Baldwin, Wing Nick Kern, PG Kanye Clary, PF Demetrius Lilley, CG Jameel Brown, SF Zach Hicks, SF Puff Johnson, C Qudus Wahab, SF Leo O’Boyle, CG RayQuawndis Mitchell, C Favour Aire
Penn State scholarship breakdown by class
Bonus year (3): Qudus Wahab, Leo O’Boyle, RayQuawndis Mitchell
Fourth year (2): Ace Baldwin, Puff Johnson
Third year (2): Nick Kern, Zach Hicks
Second year (4): Kanye Clary, Jameel Brown, Demetrius Lilley, Favour Aire
