After BYU made his top 3 earlier this week, big man Abdullah Ahmed told Joe Tipton that he has cut his list to Houston and BYU. Abdullah told me that he will take an official visit to BYU November 7-9. BYU hosts Holy Cross November 8. Tipton reports that Ahmed will begin his visit to Houston November 1 and plans to announce his decision November 10, one day after he completes his BYU visit.
Ahmed is listed at 6-foot-10 and has spent the last two seasons with the Westchester Knicks. Defense is his strength and he was one of the best shot blockers in the G-League. Last season, Ahmed averaged 4 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks in 18 minutes per game. Ahmed is a rim protector, and offensively he brings value as a rim runner who can catch lobs. This summer at EuroCamp Ahmed measured just over 6-foot-8 barefoot with a wingspan of 7-feet-2.5 inches. Most teams list height with shoes on, which is where his 6-foot-10 comes from. BYU must replace Keba Keita after this season, and Ahmed would compete for the starting center position next season. He’s expected to have two years of eligibility.
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Below is an excerpt from what Ahmed told me about his BYU interest.
“I’m really interested in BYU because I want to be part of a strong, competitive program. They play in one of the toughest conferences in college basketball, and the fan base is crazy — super passionate and supportive. The coaching staff also has a ton of NBA experience, which shows how much they can help players develop and reach the next level. That really stands out to me. I’ve been in contact with Coach Will Voigt and Coach Kevin, the head coach. I’ve also had a great Zoom meeting with them and built a really good connection.”
One factor in Houston’s favor over BYU could be his enrollment timeline. A new NCAA rule that begin this season is that men’s college basketball teams have a 15-player roster limit, and all players can be on scholarship. Before there was a 13-scholarship limit but no limit on roster count. Schools can go over the 15-player limit if they designate players that would have been cut after the change. BYU gave that designation to Jared McGregor, meaning BYU will have 16 players on the roster once KJ Perry joins the team mid-year and transfers.
Because of that roster limit, BYU has told Ahmed they can’t add him until next season. Houston, meanwhile, has one roster spot available. Ahmed told me he can enroll at Houston in December and redshirt the remainder of the year.
If Ahmed sees a better path to playing time at BYU, however, that could tip things in BYU’s favor.
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Below is what I wrote in my Wednesday piece about Ahmed and how why he is potentially eligible as a former G-League player.
Ahmed is the latest player of a recent ruling that has allowed G-League players to play college ball. Santa Clara and Louisville recently received commitments from G-League players whom the NCAA ruled eligible. The idea is similar to how certain pro Euroleague players — such as BYU’s Mihailo Boskovic — are allowed to play college ball after playing in a professional league. G-League salaries are around $40K annually, which is less than what many Power Conference college players make from NIL and revenue sharing. The NCAA essentially views that as living expenses such as housing, food, etc similar to what a college scholarship would cover. If the player is within their 5-year eligibility window, then the NCAA may rule them eligible. Ahmed turns 22 in November, so he would likely have around two years of eligibility remaining.
