Will Wade's LSU Rebuild Gets Huge Boost With Abdi Bashir Jr. Commitment
The return of Will Wade to LSU was one of the biggest moves of the college basketball offseason. He’s a charismatic coach and a proven winner, but also one who carries baggage and pressure with him everywhere he goes.
Wade's first LSU era produced SEC titles, NBA talent, packed arenas, and eventually NCAA scandal fallout that led to his firing in 2022. Then came the redemption tour at McNeese, a quick stop at NC State, and now a dramatic return to LSU in 2026 with one clear mandate: win immediately.
Now, just over a month after his hiring, Wade has landed a proven scorer who could accelerate that timeline.
On Friday, reports emerged that Abdi Bashir Jr., one of the most dangerous high-volume shooters in the country, has committed to LSU after entering the transfer portal following his lone season at Kansas State.
More news: Fans Threaten NBA Boycott After Shocking New Mock Draft
After arriving at Monmouth University as a zero-star recruit in 2023 and playing limited minutes as a freshman, the 6-foot-7 guard exploded with the Hawks during the 2024-25 season, averaging 20.1 points per game while knocking down 38.3% of his 3-point attempts.
He led the nation in made threes per game at 3.85 and buried 127 triples overall, setting both school and conference single-season records.
Bashir earned First Team All-CAA honors and became one of the most feared microwave scorers in the country.
His breakout moment came in a 38-point eruption against Rutgers, where he drilled 10 threes, a performance that turned him from mid-major bucket-getter into national portal commodity.
At Kansas State in 2025-26, Bashir proved the scoring translated against high-major competition. Even though injuries cut his season short after 18 games, he averaged 13.2 points while shooting a blistering 44.4% from three on enormous volume (8.4 attempts per game).
At the time of his injury, he ranked among the national leaders in both three-point percentage and made threes per game.
Now, he aims to take another leap, this time in the SEC under Will Wade.
More news: Draymond Green Blasted After Awkward, Viral Moment With Charles Barkley
More news: Luka Doncic's Europe Trip May Have Been About More Than Recovery
Under Wade, LSU is clearly building a fast, spacing-heavy roster through the portal, and Bashir fits perfectly alongside recent additions like former Michigan State point guard Divine Ugochukwu and Kentucky forward Mouhamed Dioubate.
Bashir and Ugochukwu both shot well over 40% from deep last season, and Dioubate has the length (6-foot-7) and physicality (220 pounds) to play inside-out.
Wade's system thrives with aggressive guards, transition offense, and shooters who can stretch defenses far beyond the arc. Bashir's ability to fire off screens, attack in transition, and force defenders to stay attached opens driving lanes for LSU's slashers and creates cleaner half-court offense.
Defensively, LSU still has roster questions, particularly against the SEC's bigger, more physical backcourts. But offensively, this team suddenly looks dangerous.
Bashir projects as either a starting wing or high-minute scoring weapon off the bench, and if LSU continues adding depth around him, the Tigers have a realistic path back into NCAA Tournament contention and potentially the upper half of the SEC standings in 2026.
2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
This story was originally published May 8, 2026 at 10:28 AM.