Busting Brackets
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Pac-12 Basketball: Each team’s best acquisition out of 2023 transfer portal

By Jerran Anderson

Mar 9, 2023; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Washington State Cougars forward DJ Rodman (11) celebrates after a scoring play against the Oregon Ducks during the first half at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 9, 2023; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Washington State Cougars forward DJ Rodman (11) celebrates after a scoring play against the Oregon Ducks during the first half at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports /

Fardaws Aimaq- 6’11 Forward/Center – California Golden Bears

Fardaws Aimaq looks to bounce back from a rollercoaster experience in the Big 12 by joining the California Golden Bears in the Pac-12 to close out his college basketball career. Aimaq brings a ton of potential given he’s a former 2020-21 WAC Player of the Year and two-time WAC Defensive Player of the Year that battled the injury bug with the Texas Tech Red Raiders this past season.

He moves back to the West after a short stint in the Big 12 that saw him appear in just 11 games, nine starts, due to injury for the Red Raiders in 2022-23. He put up 11.1 ppg, 7.9 rpg and 1.5 apg on 44.3 percent shooting from the field before hitting the transfer portal and committing to his former Utah Valley head coach, Mark Madsen at California.

Aimaq has played his best basketball under Madsen. During the 2020-21 season, he put up 13.9 ppg, 15.0 rpg, 1.7 bpg and 1.6 apg on 48.3 percent shooting from the field with Utah Valley. The next season, he put up 18.9 ppg, 13.6 rpg, 1.7 apg and 1.3 bpg on 49 percent shooting from the field and 43.5 percent shooting from deep. He’s a mobile presence in the painted area with nice touch around the rim as a finisher and rebounder.

He racked up 41 double-doubles across 54 games while playing under Madsen and accumulated 20 rebounds or more across six games as well. He’s a defensive presence that’s slowly developed into a versatile presence that can also knock down shots on the perimeter. He certainly knows how to play at a high level under Maden’s guidance.

Aimaq will look to change the fortune for the Golden Bears as they look to bounce back from a forgettable 3-29 season that saw them win just two games in Pac-12 action in 2022-23. They’ll return six players from that squad while adding Aimaq and two other transfers including former Texas Tech Red Raiders teammate Jaylon Tyson.

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