Abdul-Bassit finds success as a Cardinal

To say that North Idaho College sophomore Jalil Abdul-Bassit has had a good week on the basketball floor might be an understatement.

It's actually been pretty great.

Abdul-Bassit, a 6-foot-4 sophomore transfer from Anchorage, Alaska, scored 28 points in the Cardinals' 82-77 overtime win against Snow College last Thursday, then scored 27 points in an 87-78 win against then 11th-ranked Salt Lake on Saturday at Rolly Williams Court.

On Sunday, he verbally committed to the University of Oregon and will join the 10th-ranked Ducks' lineup next season.

"I love the coaches and the program at Oregon," Abdul-Bassit said. "They're having some success right now, so I feel I can come in right away and contribute to that."

Utah, Washington, Washington State and Utah State were among other schools interested in Abdul-Bassit.

"I can't wait to be there (at Oregon)," Abdul-Bassit said. "Especially with all the success they're having this year. It should be a fun season next year."

Some Oregon coaches traveled to the Cardinals' Scenic West Athletic Conference opener at Colorado Northwestern to watch Abdul-Bassit play, as well as the first game against Salt Lake.

"For them to travel all the way to Rangely, Colo., it really showed their dedication to try and get him," NIC men's coach Jared Phay said.

Abdul-Bassit transferred from Monroe College in Rochester, N.Y., after playing in 31 of 37 games for the Tribunes, who finished fifth at last year’s NJCAA tournament.

“I just didn’t get to play as many minutes and the playing time I wanted last year,” Abdul-Bassit said. “The coaches here gave me the chance to play and showcase my skills.”

NIC is ranked 10th in this week’s NJCAA poll, and will host in-state rival Southern Idaho on Saturday, starting with the women’s game at 3 p.m., followed by the men at 5 at Rolly Williams Court.

Abdul-Bassit was named Scenic West Athletic Conference men’s basketball player of the week.

“I’m getting more comfortable right now,” Abdul-Bassit said. “I was sick midway through the season, but I’m healthy right now and my teammates are getting me some good looks at the basket right now.”

Abdul-Bassit’s father, Muff Butler, played at NIC with current athletics director Al Williams during the 1978-79 season and was an all-conference and second team All-American as a sophomore.

Abdul-Bassit will be the fourth player from his YMCA in team in Anchorage to play at the Division I level — joining Devon Bookert (Florida State), Damon Sherman-Newsome (Colgate) and Keiahnna Engel — (Boise State women’s team).

“It’s always been a dream to go D-1,” Abdul-Bassit said. “We just put a lot of hard work into it when we were younger.”

MEN: Abdul-Bassit isn’t the only player on the Cardinals roster who is getting interest from Division I schools.

Chris Sarbaugh, who transferred from Gonzaga, is getting interest from Idaho, Eastern Washington, San Diego, Denver and Idaho State, Phay added.

Forward James Webb signed with Boise State in November.

“Chris is going to have quite a few offers coming in,” Phay said. “Kaj (Sherman) and Mike (Middlebrooks) are going to have quite a few also.”

In their previous matchup this season, NIC (21-3, 8-1) beat CSI 51-47 in Twin Falls on Jan. 12. CSI (16-7, 4-5) has won three of its last four games — with the only setback to Salt Lake last Thursday.

“It’s a rivalry game,” Phay said. “It’s an in-state rivalry, so you can throw records out in those games. They’re playing some pretty good basketball right now. They lost to Salt (Lake), but handled Snow pretty good. It will be a typical CSI-North Idaho battle.”

Middlebrooks, who is seventh in the nation with 76 blocks (3.2 per game), has been slowed by a high ankle sprain, but is expected to play Saturday.

“He gave us some minutes against Salt Lake,” Phay said. “But it’s still swollen. I think he’ll play, but we don’t know how much.”

WOMEN: Freshman point guard Georgia Stirton was named the conference’s women’s player of the week after scoring a total of 19 points, with 11 assists and seven steals in wins against Snow and Salt Lake.

“She probably came out and had her best couple of starts,” NIC women’s coach Chris Carlson said. “She’s just really been setting the tone for how we want to play for the last couple of games. She had a great mental approach to the game and did exactly what we wanted to do and got us off and running.”

Of his roster, Carlson added that sophomores Katie Buskey, Danika Johnson, Aimee Durbidge and Kabri Emerson are gathering interest, as well as Stirton.

“There’s been a few different coaches in the stands,” Carlson said. “Oregon State was in the stands last Saturday, but were looking at a kid from Salt Lake. Kabri is getting some looks and South Dakota is interested in both her and Katie. Valparaiso is interested in Danika and Carroll is interested in Katie. Eastern (Washington) has already sent out information for Aimee, Katie and Georgia. We’re getting some good interest from around the region for sure.”

NIC (23-1, 8-1) remained second in this week’s poll, with CSI (13-10, 7-2) receiving one vote.

The CSI women have won four straight since a 60-42 loss to NIC in Twin Falls on Jan. 12.

“They’re one game behind us,” said Carlson of CSI. “They’ve been playing good basketball and beat Salt Lake and Snow. They’re playing really well on the road, so that gets you a little perked up. We got a win at their place, but this one really has tiebreaker implications — and that’s a factor. There’s still a lot of games, so a lot can happen.”