Aboubacar Traore

Position:
Forward
Height:
6-5
Weight:
205
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Abidjan, Côte D’Ivoire
Prev School:
Long Beach State
High School:
National Preparatory Association

Senior Year in 2024-25

All-ACC Academic Team
Appeared in 25 games for Louisville, starting in two of those; missed the other 10 games during Louisville’s season (from Nov. 19 through Dec. 21) with a broken arm
Averaged 13.6 minutes per appearance, contributing 4.6 points and 4.3 rebounds per game
Shot 52.9% from the floor, making 46 of 87 attempts from the field during the year
Added 14 total assists, 13 steals and 11 blocks on the season
Scored a season-high 15 at Virginia on Jan. 4, just his third game back after recovering from a broken arm, going 6 of 10 from the floor in just 16 minutes on the court; added in eight boards, a steal and a block
Pulled down a season-high 11 rebounds at Boston College on Feb. 5
Blocked a season-high two shots against Morehead State in the season opener on Nov. 4; blocked a single shot in nine more games

Before Louisville

Played three seasons at Long Beach State
Averaged 12.0 points, 8.4 rebounds and 4.5 assists as a junior, helping the program reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2012
Tallied 55 steals and 51 blocks in 2023-24, earning the title Big West Conference Best Hustle Player for the second straight year
Was the Big West's 2024 Most Outstanding Player of the Conference Tournament, averaging 13.0 points, 10.7 rebounds and 8.7 assists over the event
Named First Team All-Big West
Finished time at Long Beach State as the program's No. 3 all-time rebounder and shot blocker
Only one of two players in LBS history to record 100 steals and 100 blocks
Averaged 10.1 points, 8.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists as a sophomore
Averaged 8.3 points and 8.1 boards per game as a freshman

High School/Prep

Won two league championships in high school, averaging 20 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in his final season
Earned All-State honors out of the National Preparatory Association in Montreal
Also played at the Labase Amerique Academy in Côte D’Ivoire
Represented his national team multiple times and was the final cut for the 12-man roster prior to the 2023 FIBA World Cup

Personal:

Nickname “Kader” – pronounced kuh-DEER
Born October 4, 2001… Son of Naissa and Faman Traore… Has seven siblings (Aminata, Sekou, Namian, Diguibani, Fatoumata, Aicha, Kadidiatou)… Majoring in consumer business dynamics with a minor in sociology
Will face off against high school teammate AJ George who plays at SMU
Enjoys playing Fornite in his spare time
He chose to attend UofL because of “The project; being apart of rebuilding a basketball city”
Personal goal at UofL is to get to the NCAA Tournament
Originally wanted the number 15 at Long Beach State, but it was taken so he switched to 25; he’s keeping 25 at UofL
Says the best thing about being a Cardinal is that “the fans are really engaged”
If a movie was made about his life, thinks The Rock should play him
The greatest influence on his athletic career is Lebron James
The basketball player he most admires is Lebron James
The first thing someone would notice in his dorm room is his PS5
The best moment of his athletic career was going to the NCAA Tournament
Few people know this about him, but he speaks French
The best basketball advice anyone ever gave him was “Don’t ever think you’re better”
The best athlete he ever faced was Josh Primo
He’d most likely to meet Lebron James
He’s most proud of home

Favorites:
NBA Team: Wherever Lebron goes
Athlete other than basketball: Cristiano Ronaldo
Class: English class from his freshman year
App: YouTube
X follow: Fabrizio Romano
Instagram follow: His friend Basil
Actor: The Rock
Vacation spot: Nice
Movie: End Game
TV Show: How to Get Away with Murder; Blacklist
Comedian: Chris Tucker
Musical Artist: NBA Youngboy
Food: Chipotle
Midnight snack: Oreos