TEMPE, Ariz. — After many transfer portal departures, Arizona State basketball has made their first addition via the portal this offseason. The Sun Devils lacked both scoring and rebounding this year. The staff has clearly identified the need for those and it shows with their first pickup of the offseason.
Arizona State basketball adds Basheer Jihad
Basheer Jihad announced on social media this afternoon that he would be taking his talents to Tempe for his final collegiate season.
Jihad spent the first three seasons of college basketball with Ball State in the MAC conference. The Michigan native showed immense improvement each season before his breakout junior campaign.
As a junior, Jihad averaged 18.6 points per game and eight rebounds per game. The 6’9 power forward was efficient as well, shooting 45% from the field, and 35% from three. His three-point shooting is above average for a player of his size and should help provide offensive spacing for the Sun Devils next season.
Arizona State basketball head coach Bobby Hurley is familiar with the MAC conference, Hurley coached at Buffalo for two seasons and won the MAC conference championship (regular season) twice.
Jihad was on the All-Conference Second Team as a junior and had many suitors in the portal, including an extensive list of high majors. According to The Portal Report, several schools recruited Jihad in the portal, including Michigan, Ohio State, Miami, Rutgers, and others.
Expect Jihad to immediately compete for a starting position next season, especially given the only returning big man on the roster is Shawn Phillips. As of now, my prediction is Jihad starting at the power-forward position with Phillips at the center.
The first transfer portal addition of the offseason is a good one for Arizona State basketball.
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