Former Kansas State Wildcats men’s basketball standout Abdi Bashir has officially found his next destination in the transfer portal, committing to LSU Tigers men’s basketball after exploring several high-profile opportunities, including interest from rival Kansas Jayhawks men’s basketball.
Bashir, a 6-foot-7 junior guard known for his elite perimeter shooting, entered the transfer portal following a productive season at Kansas State. During his lone year with the Wildcats, he averaged 13.2 points, 2.3 assists, and 2.2 rebounds per game while emerging as one of the team’s most dangerous long-range threats. He connected on an impressive 44.4% of his shots from beyond the arc and knocked down 67 three-pointers before his season was ultimately cut short because of a broken foot.
His ability to stretch the floor quickly made him one of the more attractive shooters available in the portal. Multiple major programs expressed interest, including St. John’s Red Storm men’s basketball, Ohio State Buckeyes men’s basketball, and NC State Wolfpack men’s basketball. However, LSU ultimately won the recruiting battle and secured Bashir’s commitment.
One of the more intriguing storylines during Bashir’s recruitment involved the interest shown by Kansas head coach Bill Self. The Jayhawks reportedly arranged a Zoom meeting with Bashir earlier this month to discuss the possibility of him joining Kansas for the upcoming season. While Bashir’s defensive limitations may have raised concerns for KU’s coaching staff, there was little question that his shooting ability could have filled an important need for the Jayhawks offensively.
Kansas ultimately decided not to move forward, allowing LSU to capitalize on the opportunity. Bashir will now head to Baton Rouge to play under Will Wade, giving the Tigers an experienced scorer with proven shooting ability at the high-major level.
Before arriving at Kansas State, Bashir began his collegiate career at Monmouth Hawks men’s basketball, where he established himself as a high-volume scorer over two seasons. His offensive production at Monmouth helped attract attention from larger programs, leading to his transfer to the Wildcats ahead of last season.
Bashir’s departure is part of a major offseason roster overhaul for Kansas State. The Wildcats have experienced significant roster turnover, with nine players entering the transfer portal and four seniors departing from last year’s squad. Among the outgoing transfers are players headed to programs such as Rutgers Scarlet Knights men’s basketball, Texas A&M Aggies men’s basketball, Iowa State Cyclones men’s basketball, and Loyola Chicago Ramblers men’s basketball.
At the same time, Kansas State has aggressively rebuilt its roster through recruiting and the portal. The Wildcats have added 10 incoming transfers along with several high school recruits as they attempt to reshape the team for next season.
For LSU, the addition of Bashir represents a valuable pickup in today’s transfer-driven college basketball landscape. If healthy, his shooting and scoring versatility could make him an immediate contributor in the SEC next season.
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