Louisville lands commitment from Long Beach State transfer Aboubacar Traore

Louisville has landed another addition to their 2024-25 basketball roster in Aboubacar Traore, a 6’5 wing from Long Beach State.

Traore announced his commitment Thursday via his Instagram page, with a video showing off his pledge to the Cardinals with a caption that read: “I’ll bet on MYSELF. #reviville.”

For the Cards, what an addition! Sure, a guy who scored 12 points per game in the Big West may be the splashiest addition, but there’s much more than meets the eye with Aboubacar Traore.

He enjoyed a particularly terrific 2023-24 season, making All-Big West First-Team and winning the Big West Tournament MVP award while also being named The Big West Best Hustle Player for the second straight season.

Such accolades were the result of Traore’s obscene stat-stuffing. At 6’5 and 190 pounds, he doesn’t fit the dimensions of your typical great rebounder, but at 8.8 boards per game, Traore finished second in the Big West in rebounds per game, coincidentally coming in right behind his teammate Lassina Traore. The two aren’t related but did come from the same city in Cote d’Ivoire.

Traore was also a menace in the defensive box score, recording 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks per game. Then there’s his passing, too, as Traore averaged 4.5 assists per game to also serve as the team’s lead creator.

Really, the only flaw in his game comes from the 3-point line, where Traore converted just two of 23 attempts. At an 8% clip and hesitant to shoot it as it is, he’s not even worth guarding out there. But for what he lacks as a shooter and added floor spacer is more than made-up-for with just how much he provides in other areas of the game.

This addition complements a slew of other transfers the Cardinals have already added. Plus, UL is in the market for another potential add and are set to host one of the most dynamic scorers in the college basketball transfer portal. Wisconsin transfer Chucky Hepburn arrived on Wednesday evening for his official visit with the Cardinals.

Hepburn was very complete this year for the Badgers, averaging 9.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game. He also shot over 32% from beyond-the-arc. Hepburn also grabbed 2.1 steals per game, showing he can play both ends of the floor very well.