Abdul Bashir burst onto the JUCO basketball scene during the 23-24 season as a true freshman at Casper College in Casper, Wyoming under the guidance of head coach Tom Parks. The 6’7” guard shot the ball at a 45% clip from three and made 124 threes on the season while averaging 19.4 PPG, 4.2 RPG, and 3.2 APG. He has quickly become a highly sought-after prospect in the 2025 JUCO class.

Bashir currently holds offers from Nebraska, UCF, Kansas State, Arizona State, Texas A&M, BGSU, Stetson, UMKC, and Monmouth. He is also picking up interest daily from schools at all levels of division one. 

We discussed Bashir’s first season at the JC level, his off-season plans, and the latest with his recruitment. 

Here’s our Q&A with Abdul Bashir: 

BW: Give me a recap of your first season at Casper and how you made the adjustment to play so well as a true freshman.

Abdul Bashir: I think I had some ups and downs during practice early. It was a rollercoaster ride. I didn’t know what to expect, and a lot of guys from my city told me about the struggle and how tough it can be at the JUCO level. I remember coming into the first few practices and games not knowing what to expect. I had an off game against Western Nebraska early in the season, but I played 30 minutes and was able to work through things on the court.  It took me until the CSI tourney to get adjusted to the physicality of the game and speed of the game. I quickly realized that you have to have pinpoint accuracy with everything you do at the college level, and I was able to adjust my game from there and adapt to the level. 

BW: How do you feel that you’ve improved since you arrived at Casper under the guidance of Coach Parks?

Abdul Bashir: Around mid-season, I improved my defense and understood the importance of being able to guard several positions. Being such a good shooter, I didn’t always have to guard before arriving at the JUCO level. Going through the season, I felt like my defense improved a lot, I played much harder defensively and was able to cut guys off and rebound the ball. I also got much better at making plays with the ball in my hands and was able to create more opportunities for my teammates and myself. 

BW:  What areas of your game are you focusing on this off-season from a developmental standpoint?

Abdul Bashir: I’ve been very focused on gaining weight and strength so I can hold my own at the high-major level. I feel like I have the skill set to play at that level and just need to continue adding strength and weight this off-season and into next season to be able to guard 1-5, get in the lane, and be able to finish through contact. I’m also working on being more crisp with my handle. Next season I am going to be playing on the ball a lot more and will be asked to create more. I know other teams will be guarding me aggressively, so I need to keep expanding my game to create more opportunities for my teammates and myself. 
 

BW: You have offers and interest from schools at various levels, how has the recruiting process been so far? 

Abdul Bashir: I’ve handled it well, and I show respect to all coaches who recruit me. That’s how I was raised. Coming from where I come from, not many guys make it out so I’m very humble and have been enjoying the process with my family and my coaches and am just taking it day by day. I am so grateful for all the schools who have recruited me to this point. 

BW: What are some key factors you are considering when looking at potential schools?

Abdul Bashir: I’m looking for a school that really fits my play style. I like playing in an up-tempo and fast-paced game. That’s how Coach Parks plays, and I thrive in that environment.  It’s also very important to me that I build strong relationships with the coaching staff. I don’t care about the location of the school or anything like that and know it will all fall into place. I just want to make sure I am comfortable with everything and want to go where I’m really wanted. 

BW: You recently took an unofficial visit to Nebraska. How did that go?

Abdul Bashir: The visit was great. I got in early Thursday morning last week and the staff was very respectful to me and my family. I sat down with the staff, and we watched film together and they were able to show me what they run. They showed me how I’d fit in their offense and how I could score off the bounce, off pin downs and ball screens, and felt that I could thrive in their offense. They had great facilities, and I had an amazing time overall. 

BW: Have you set any other official or unofficial visits yet, and what is your timeline for your official visits? 

Abdul Bashir: I plan on taking official visits in the fall most likely and will see how everything goes from there.