Pat Kesley has landed another big piece to the 2024-25 roster with Long Beach State transfer forward Aboubacar Traore.
Louisville has landed Long Beach State transfer Aboubacar Traore, he announced.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) April 25, 2024
The 6-5 junior averaged 12.0 points, 8.4 boards, 4.5 assists this past season.
Traore was a major contributor to LBSU’s improbable March Madness run this past season, averaging 12 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 4.5 assists on 51.7% shooting.
Aboubacar led the team in minutes per game (31), assists per game, and blocks per game (1.4). He was second in rebounds per game and steals per game (1.5) as well.
The best comparison of a former Cardinal to Traore would be Dwayne Sutton, minus the shooting touch Sutton had.
Traore is a big-time difference maker for Louisville on both sides of the floor as he never takes a play off. He is a lockdown defender and plays much larger than his 6-5/195 pound frame.
Aboubacar doesn’t provide much of a threat from 3-point range, but excels as a slashing wing and will thrive on second chance opportunities by battling on the offensive boards where he’s averaged nearly 3 a game for his career.
In the Big West Semifinal against UC Riverside this past season, Traore put up a triple-double stat line with 12 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists!!!
Aboubacar has been a double-double machine during his career at Long Beach State, where he has tallied 28 in three seasons including a 23 point and 22 rebound effort against Cal State Fullerton this past season.
The LBSU transfer proved he can compete with the best competition in the country with his performance against 2-seeded Arizona in the tournament. He played 36 minutes and scored 14 points, grabbed 15 rebounds, and dished out 4 assists.
Aboubacar Traore joins transfer seniors J’Vonne Hadley, Terrence Edwards, Reyne Smith, and Aly Khalifa with one year of eligibility remaining.
Incoming juniors James Scott and Koren Johnson are the only two players on the roster with multiple years of eligibility remaining.
