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The BYU basketball program added a key piece to its 2026 recruiting class with the addition of center Abdullah Ahmed. The 6-10 post presence should fill a void soon to hit the lineup with the graduation of Keba Keita.
Ahmed is an interesting prospect for a number of reasons. Most notably, he’s been playing professionally for the last two seasons.
Who is BYU basketball commit Abdullah Ahmed?
The center is a native of Egypt that’s been with the Westchester Knicks for the last two years. Those Knicks compete professionally as members of the NBA G-League.
Ahmed made six starts across 18 total appearances in those two seasons. He averaged 3.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.2 per game.
The big man is now the third player to follow a recent college basketball trend. He is taking the path already traveled by Thierry Darlan (Santa Clara) and London Johnson (Louisville) as G-League players to move onto the NCAA.
Typically, the order of those stops is reversed. A recent ruling has made it a two-way street.
Pro players can officially become eligible for college ball. Abdullah Ahmed is taking full advantage.
The center should get a raise.
He chose BYU over the likes of Houston and Mississippi State. He is expected to enroll this year, redshirt, and be ready to play in 2026-27. He will have at least two years of eligibility.
Ahmed is already 22 years old. He will turn 23 by the time he takes the floor next November.
Most players his age are wrapping up college and looking ahead to a professional payday. The changing landscape of NCAA sports has opened different options.
G-League players who are not on two-way NBA contracts make an average of $40,500. BYU is paying its roster much, much more.
The Cougars signed top recruit AJ Dybantsa to an NIL deal reported to be between $4-7 million. Teammate Rob Wright is said to be making $3.5 million. BYU boasts one of the nation’s most expensive rosters.
Abdullah should receive his fair share in NIL and revenue sharing – and it will likely exceed his previous salary.
Making the deal even sweeter, he should be able to cash in before ever stepping foot on the court.
Ahmed is expected to enroll mid-year in late December for Winter Semester and redshirt the rest of the season. BYU initially had no space for Ahmed to enroll this year, but Nate Pickens’ season-ending injury before the season started opened up an extra roster space. Under NCAA rules, if a player suffers a season-ending injury before the season starts schools can elect to have that player not count against the roster limit. That open roster spot allowed Ahmed to enroll at BYU early and get an additional season of revenue share and NIL money.
This will be a win-win for both Abdullah Ahmed and BYU. The center gets a raise. The Cougars get a veteran presence with pro experience.
With that said, not everyone agrees that professional players should be eligible for college. That is a controversy for another day.