The UMass men’s basketball team made a splash in the transfer portal on Friday, adding former BYU big man Abdullah Ahmed to bolster its frontcourt.

Ahmed stands at 6-foot-10 and was primarily known for his shot-blocking abilities with the Cougars, where the Cairo, Egypt native averaged 1.4 blocks-per-game.

Ahmed appeared in 20 games with BYU last season, starting in one and put together 1.3 points and 2.7 rebounds per game.

Prior to joining the Cougars, Ahmed played 54 games for the Westchester Knicks, the G League affiliate of the New York Knicks from 2023-25.

“Abdullah, or Bido as we all know him, is an elite shot blocker who brings a true big man presence,” head coach Frank Martin said in a media release. “His vast experience playing international basketball and G League will be great for our team. He is a true low post player, who will fit perfectly in how we use our big men.”

Ahmed joins Jordan Clayton, formerly of Northwestern, as the second transfer addition for the Minutemen roster for the 2026-27 season.