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  • Assem Ahmed, a transfer from Egypt, spent his first full day in the United States watching his future teammates on the Minnesota State basketball team defeat Mary on Saturday. John Cross

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  • Assem Ahmed (left) starred on Egypt’s U-19 team in the FIBA World Championships. John Cross

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January 15, 2012

Egyptian prospect joins Minnesota State basketball squad sight unseen

By Chad Courrier Free Press Staff Writer

MANKATO — Assem Ahmed wants to play in the NBA someday. Minnesota State men’s basketball coach Matt Margenthaler wants a big player to build future teams around.

In one of the most bizarre recruiting stories, the 6-foot-10, 240-pound Ahmed and Margenthaler are together at Minnesota State, not having actually talked to each other until the Egypt native arrived on campus late Friday night.

“I’ve never dealt with anything like this before,” Margenthaler said.

The international intrigue began Nov. 1 when Margenthaler received an email from Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Bill Bayno, who had an Egyptian player he had coached last summer that was looking for a place to play in the United States. Margenthaler responded, looking for more information, of which there was little.

Ahmed was the best player on Egypt’s U-19 team that competed in the FIBA World Championships in Latvia, averaging 18.5 points and 12.2 rebounds in eight games against the best age-group international teams. He had a game of 25 points and 16 rebounds against China, and he had 23 points and 19 rebounds against Lithuania.

Against a team of Division I players from the U.S., he had 16 points and nine rebounds.

 “He’s a low-post scorer and good rebounder,” Margenthaler said. “He’s a very talented big kid, by U.S. standards. He’s coming to us sight unseen, but he’s handled himself against the best players in the world. I’m sure he can handle the (Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference).”

Ahmed said that he had an opportunity to attend the University of Mississippi, but because he took some college classes in Egypt, his Division I eligibility had already begun and he might have only one season to play.

He also had a chance to play professionally in Egypt, but he said the level of basketball there was not as good.

So Bayno, new to Minnesota, asked some of the Timberwolves’ executives if they knew of a good Division II program for Ahmed. Margenthaler and Timberwolves’ executive Rob Babock are friends, so Babcock directed Bayno to Margenthaler. Ahmed was OK with the possibility of playing at Minnesota State, though his international travel had never brought him to the U.S. First, he had to obtain a student visa from the U.S. Embassy in Egypt, then he had to be released from his country’s military service.

Ahmed, whose father played for the Egyptian team in the 1984 Olympics, arrived at Mankato late Friday night, seeing snow for the first time, then met the team Saturday and watched them play. He might begin practicing later this week.

A scholarship was open because two players have left the program this season. He’s done investigating on Minnesota State and the basketball program on the Internet.

“I’m excited,” Ahmed said. “Coach Bayno told me I’d like it here.”

It’s still unclear how much eligibility Ahmed will have and when he can play. He’s been accepted to take classes at Minnesota State, and Margenthaler said the NCAA will do its background checks to approve his eligibility.

Ahmed, who will study business, said he hopes to be eligible this season and get a few games with his new teammates.

“There’s a lot of people who have worked hard to make this happen,” Margenthaler said. “When it all started, I didn’t know if we could get this done. I’m excited. It’s a gamble you have to take on a 6-10 kid.”

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