St. John’s enjoyed a huge recruiting weekend, and junior college star Bashir Ahmed seemed to enjoy it.
The 6-foot-6, 205-pound freshman forward from The Bronx visited Sunday along with 2016 forward Kassoum Yakwe of Our Savior New American. Also this weekend, committed players Malik Ellison and Tariq Owens visited the Queens school, as did 2016 Thomas Jefferson guard Shamorie Ponds and 2017 Archbishop Stepinac wing Jordan Tucker.
“I love the campus, I love the program,” Ahmed told SNY.tv. “The team is like a family. They have a great coaching staff and a good history. Coach [Chris] Mullin is a very cool guy. He’s easy for me to get along with and learn from a legend who knows the game of basketball.
“I can relate to the coach. We are both from New York. He’s been in my shoes before. Most important, I feel comfortable and it’s home. It’s a great opportunity for me.”
Still, Ahmed said he’s keeping his options open and said he’s also considering Cincinnati, Houston, USC, Arizona State, Iowa State and Rutgers, where his former Hutchinson (KS) Community College teammate Deshawn Freeman recently landed.
“I know I’m going to take my time and make the right decision and choose the right school,” he said.
A onetime Iona commit who will be eligible in 2016, Ahmed was named a NJCAA All-American this season at Hutchinson.
Ahmed finished with 585 points, the sixth-most points scored by a true Blue Dragon freshman in team history. His 16.3 point scoring average tied for ninth best by a Hutchinson freshman.
Ahmed hit 45.5 percent from the floor and had a team-high 47 3-point goals, shooting 36.4 percent from long range. Ahmed was Hutchinson’s second-leading rebounder at 7.1 boards per game. His freshman total of 255 rebounds was eighth best by an HCC freshman.
Photo: Hutchinson Athletics
