The big man led Ball State in scoring, rebounding and blocks in 2023
Arizona State has landed its first transfer since the end of the season, with the announcement of Ball State forward Basheer Jihad, who spent the last three seasons with Ball State and will play out his final year of eligibility in Tempe.
Jihad averaged 18.6 points, 8 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.1 blocks while playing an average of 32.6 minutes a game in his final season. He also led the Cardinals in scoring, rebounding and blocks in 2023.
The 6-foot-9, 239-pound big man shot just over 45 percent from the field and over 35 percent from beyond the arc, but only 72.5 percent from the charity line. He was second-team All-MAC and First Team All-District by the the National Association of Basketball Coaches. He also earned conference co-player of the week three times.
The Cardinals, who struggled mightily in the tough conference, posted a 15-16 overall record and 7-11 in league play. The Sun Devils proved to struggle offensively during the 2023 season as well, holding a 14-18 overall record and 8-12 conference record — finishing only in front of Oregon State in the Pac-12 standings.
Jihad considered programs the likes of UCF, Ohio State, Cal, Missouri, Virginia Tech and Dayton before committing to ASU.
Hurley will now brace for the toughest conference in men’s hoops, but the versatility and scoring efficiency of Jihad will certainly be a positive as the bulk of Sun Devils’ roster has entered the portal.