Monmouth’s standout guard, Abdi Bashir Jr., who recently finished one of the best seasons in the program’s history, shared on social media Monday that he will be transferring to Kansas State for the upcoming season.
The 6-7 guard, who led the nation with 127 three-pointers last season, entered the transfer portal last week after finishing as the CAA’s leading scorer with 20.1 points per game during his sophomore year.
Bashir’s brother, Abdul, who spent two seasons at Casper Junior College in Wyoming, has committed to play at Auburn next season. However, it remains uncertain how much NIL money Bashir will receive at Kansas State.
Originally from Omaha, Nebraska, Bashir showed promise as a freshman before breaking out this past season. He caught national attention by setting a program record with 10 three-pointers in a 38-point game against Rutgers and scoring 28 points in a win over Seton Hall. For the season, Bashir shot 38.3% from three-point range and 86.8% from the free-throw line, scoring 30 points or more in four games.
Had Bashir stayed at Monmouth for four seasons, he could have challenged the all-time Division I scoring record at the school. But in the current NIL era and with the transfer portal, mid-major programs struggle to retain their top talent.
Monmouth’s head coach, King Rice, had already suggested that Bashir’s time at the school would be short-lived due to the financial opportunities available, estimating his potential NIL earnings between $800,000 and $900,000. After Monmouth’s elimination from the CAA Tournament, Rice even asked teams to refrain from contacting Bashir during the season.
Kansas State, which finished 16-17 last season with a 9-11 record in the Big 12, was reportedly competing with Kansas for Bashir’s services.
