On this episode of the CIAC Glory Days Podcast, host Jada Mirabelle is joined by Abdou Toure — senior at Notre Dame-West Haven, two-time CIAC State Champion, and one of the nation’s top basketball talents. Known not only for his elite play but also for his sportsmanship, character, and work ethic, Abdou has become a role model and a fan favorite across Connecticut. From packed gyms and sold-out games to supporters lining up for photos and autographs, his impact on and off the court continues to grow as he has already drawn interest from the country’s top Division I programs.
Episode Transcript
Welcome to CIAC's Glory Days podcast.
I'm your host, jada Marabou,and today I'm joined by Abdu
Torre, a CIAC basketballstandout, two-time state
champion with Notre Dame WestHaven and one of the best high
school basketball players in thecountry.
Abdu, thank you for joining metoday.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Thank you for having me on no-transcript.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Go the prep school route.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
I'll say just the support base and the community
we have at Notre Dame.
I just love it.
I feel like a family here, so Iwouldn't want to leave my
family.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Oh, that's a great answer.
And every single game you havesuch a following at, all of
these, I mean, the gym is packed, your family's here, you've got
everyone in the student section, so it's definitely a great
environment to play.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Yeah, it's a really good environment.
Speaker 1 (00:50):
So what is the appeal of CIC basketball to you,
besides that community feeling?
Speaker 2 (00:53):
I would say I like the competitiveness.
You know every game we're goingto get everybody's best, being
the number one team.
So I just like thecompetitiveness and how
everybody comes at us.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
Yes, especially these last few years, as you've been
on the team.
Yeah, I mean everyone's comingat their top level.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
Every game is packed.
Everybody's coming at us, yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
Yeah, and you can't beat that competition at other
places.
So while you've been playing inCIAC these past four years,
you've received countlessDivision I offers no-transcript.
(01:32):
Yeah, and that's a lot of stuffbehind the scenes as well.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
It's not just what you do on the court, it's what
you do off the court.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Yeah, all the time in the gym, Just at this gym right
here.
All the time I spend in thisgym working out with Drew, the
late nights and all of that.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
Yeah, you have to put in those extra hours which you
definitely know about.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Yep.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
So you've narrowed your top college choices down to
Maryland, provville and FloridaState.
What was your deciding factorin narrowing those down to just
those seven?
Speaker 2 (01:58):
I would say I feel like those seven really loved me
the most and really contactedme the most and showed that they
really had a lot of interest inme.
So I would say those are theseven that just felt right.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
Did they help make that personal connection with
you?
Yeah, that goes a long way, soyou don't have to tell me, but
did you decide on how you'regoing to make the announcement?
Do you have like a special planin mind?
Speaker 2 (02:19):
oh, like it's.
I've been thinking about that alot, but I don't really know
how I'm gonna do it yet.
But I've been thinking about.
I've been thinking about a lotof ways, like um news eight said
they wanted to live stream itand this other edit guy said he
wants live streaming.
So maybe I'll do both combined.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
I think you you should add CIAC in there for
live streaming.
Maybe we could.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Just we could do a million live streams, tiktok,
live stream Instagram.
But yeah, I don't really knowyet, but I'll make that decision
soon.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
That's a big decision .
You have so many people who aregoing to be waiting for that
answer.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
So because some people do like the table with
the hats.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
That would be pretty cool, because you've got a few
hats to choose from, All right.
Well, I can't wait to hearwhere you end up going and how
you do it.
You'll have to let us know sowhen you're out there on the
court.
Abdu, I have to say you havesome of the best sportsmanship.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
I mean, I've been watching you on the court since
you were a freshman, no matterwhat's going on around you like
how badly people are trying toguard you, or just the crowds
and the pressure of the momentbeing so calm and keep those
composure.
(03:21):
In those moments I would say Ireally just don't really worry
about what's going on, just keepplaying my game.
Don't let anything like affectme to make me play worse and
just keep playing my game.
Listen to what coaches say.
Coach always tells me keep mycomposure, don't let people see
that you're frustrated.
So I would just say keep, keepmy composure and just play the
game.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
And that's so important to have at the next
levels at college and the NBA.
That's definitely a key factorand, like you've said, just put
the ball in the hoop right Putthe ball in the hoop.
That's all you got to focus on.
So you've had so many eyes onyou since you were a freshman.
Now, as a senior, you have afollowing.
No matter where you go, there'salways a crowd of people
through the game the people, andthat says a lot about your
character.
So how do you manage to staygrounded and focused through it
(04:03):
all?
Because that's a lot ofattention to have at your age.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
I would say just keep putting the ball in the hoop.
That's what really made all ofthis come true.
You know, I never would expectkids asking me for pictures and
parents asking me for pictures,but I always spend time to take
pictures with kids, parents, asmany people as I can, because I
used to be the one asking peoplefor pictures.
So, yeah, it's really crazythat people really want to take
(04:30):
pictures with me still, but yeah, it's a great way to think
about it, though the roles havekind of reversed.
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
Now people are looking up to you and you're a
great role model for it.
You've worked very, very hardfor the talent you've had, so
does it mean a lot to you thatall these young players in
Connecticut are looking up toyou?
Speaker 2 (04:47):
Yeah, it means a lot that people look up to me and my
journey, just taking my journey, and just adapt to that.
It's just really crazy.
I don't even know how toexplain it, but it's really
crazy.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
Yeah, I remember at the last state championship
there was just lines of peoplearound the whole court just
waiting for you and you wentthrough the whole line and met
everyone.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
I was getting screamed at too for taking
pictures, but I can never say noto any pictures.
I just feel wrong if I say noto pictures.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Yeah, and that says a lot about your character, so
that's great.
So what are some of thetakeaways that you've learned
from high school basketball?
How has being an athlete shapedwho you are off the court?
Speaker 2 (05:19):
I would say the biggest takeaway is just be
yourself.
Never change, no matter whatI'll never change, no matter how
high I get or how low I get,I'll just be the same and just
be humble and just be caring andloving.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
Yeah, because that's why people like you for Abdu.
So don't ever change that.
Yeah, that's a great answer.
So you're officially in yoursenior year now hoping to 3P as
the CIAC Division One Boys StateChampions.
What are your goals for theseason as one of the captains?
Speaker 2 (05:48):
I'll say my goal is to be undefeated.
Win another state championship,get every player of the year
again and get into theMcDonald's All-American game.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
All right.
Well, you've done some of thosethings before, so you can do it
again.
Yeah, those are high goals, butyou could definitely reach them
.
So how would your teammatesdescribe your leadership style
as a captain?
What do you find is mostimportant?
Speaker 2 (06:09):
I would just say I push my teammates as much as I
can make them to be the bestplayer that they could be, and
just push them no matter what.
Any game, it doesn't matter ifit's like a not-so-good team or
a really good team.
I'm just going to push them nomatter what.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
Yeah, you always have to go in level-headed and ready
to win.
So what do you think the seasonis going to look like this year
?
Do you have any changes on theteam?
Speaker 2 (06:33):
We got a few players that were injured last year,
like Kyle and Sekou, that didn'tplay as much last year because
they were injured, so we'regoing to see how they do.
I mean, everybody's spot is forgrabs, so everybody really has
to work for their spot and makesure they're in the gym, working
and ready to play this year,because this year we have a lot
of incoming freshmen.
That's nice, it's really goodtoo.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
So it's going to be really tough this year and
hopefully they can learnthroughout the year for when you
guys graduate to help theprogram.
Yeah, so how would you describeyour game and playing style?
What do you see as the biggeststrengths on the court?
Speaker 2 (07:05):
I would say my biggest strength is probably
like attacking the rim, and Ireally say like making my
teammates better.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
Yeah, yeah, that's very, very important, because
not every athlete has theability to encourage and
motivate their teammates thatyou do, so what drives you to
compete at such a high level?
Speaker 2 (07:25):
I would just say I just love to win, I love to
succeed.
I don't like not succeeding, soI would just say I love to win.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
Can't beat that, can't beat that.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
I don't like losing.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
So what do you believe has been the biggest
factor in your developmentthroughout these past few years?
Speaker 2 (07:42):
I would probably say just staying in the gym, like
all the early mornings, latenights.
I would say that's been thebiggest factor.
I'm really working on thethings that I'm not so good at,
so I would probably say that'sthe biggest factor just to
continue to get better andbetter yeah so you say, because
I always see on social media, Imean you're working out before
school as well sometimes, right?
Speaker 1 (08:02):
yeah and then after school as well.
I mean at night you're workingout.
Yeah, I mean it's all day.
You have to let it kind ofconsume you to be as good as you
are.
Yeah yeah so who do you think'shad the most influence on your
game throughout all these years?
Is there one person that comesto mind?
Speaker 2 (08:15):
I'll probably say my dad.
My dad is just always talkingEvery chance he gets he's going
to talk to me about what I coulddo better or what I need to
improve on.
Just last night I got off myflight tired and my dad is just
talking the whole ride aboutwhat I could do better and how I
need to improve on my game.
(08:35):
So I'll probably say my dad?
Speaker 1 (08:37):
yeah, we were just talking about that off camera.
I mean, your dad is.
He's at every single game.
He doesn't miss anything he'syour biggest supporter.
Speaker 2 (08:42):
Yeah, and that goes a long way.
My dad and my mom yeah, my momdoesn't.
My mom knows a lot aboutbasketball, but she doesn't
really know, but she's alwaysthere supporting yeah, you have
a great support system whichmakes a big difference in all
this.
Speaker 1 (08:52):
So so that's an awesome answer.
So now I'm sure you know thedrill, but we always end with
rapid questions or a surprise.
So whatever comes to your mindfirst, that's what you're gonna
answer, with All right, favoriteCIAC basketball memory.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
Landis game tying shot.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
That was one for the books.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
That was incredible.
I'll always remember that shot.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
Ture Krieger gets a shot off.
It's good Overtime Pre-gameritual.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
I'll probably say just closing my eyes and praying
.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
I love that Something random that you keep in your
game day bag.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
I don't keep nothing random.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
Nothing really.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
Probably my shoes.
Yeah, I don't keep nothing.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
That's not too random .
You kind of need those.
Yeah Right, speaking of shoes,what is your favorite sneaker to
play in?
Speaker 2 (09:46):
I'll probably say Kobe's Okay, yeah.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
Story behind wearing number 23?
.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
Just my favorite player, the greatest of all time
, lebron James.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
Greatest player of all time.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
What do you like to do most outside of basketball?
Speaker 2 (10:02):
I'll probably say hang out with my girlfriend or
play the game.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
She's gonna like that answer.
All right, favorite movie.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
Favorite movie, I'll probably Sinners.
Speaker 1 (10:17):
Sinners yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
Do you know what Sinners?
Speaker 1 (10:18):
is no I don't.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
It's the one with Michael B Jordan and like the
vampires and stuff like that.
No, it's a really good movieLike you should watch that.
It's a really good movie,really.
Yeah, okay, well, I've got agood review I just watched the
Conjuring too.
That was really scary.
Speaker 1 (10:31):
That's scary.
I don't know if I want to lookthat one up.
I'll look up the Michael BJordan one, but not the
Conjuring.
Alright, what's something thatpeople would be surprised to
know about you?
Speaker 2 (10:41):
I'm really good at football and soccer and baseball
.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
Really Wow.
You're just a.
You could be a four-sportathlete right there, yeah.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
I'm really good at all the other sports, but I just
can't play football because mycoach doesn't want me to play
football or intramural football.
Speaker 1 (10:56):
No, you can't risk an injury.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
No.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
Smart, just stick to basketball.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
I'm going to have a meeting with him this year
because I really want to playintramural football this year.
It's my last year of highschool.
I've been wanting to play sinceI was a freshman.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
Maybe you could just coach from the sidelines.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
No, I can't.
I need to play you.
I think I have a feeling whatcoach will say about that, but
we'll see Favorite move on thecourt.
Speaker 1 (11:20):
I'll probably say a twin cross?
Yeah, one word to describe yourgame.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
Let me think this is a hard one.
Speaker 1 (11:31):
This is a hard one.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
Energetic.
Speaker 1 (11:34):
Energetic.
Okay, yeah, that's a very goodword.
Describe it Best piece ofadvice you've ever received.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
Best piece of I'll probably say stay level-headed.
Yeah, don't always forget whereyou came from.
Don't forget where you camefrom.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
Yes, very true, yeah, and that goes all things your
life, not just for yourbasketball, everything else as
well.
So most exciting CIC gameyou've ever played.
Speaker 2 (11:59):
The most exciting game.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
I'll probably say You've had a few that come to
mind in my head.
Speaker 2 (12:07):
The last year when we played cross, it was really
good.
Oh, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (12:11):
Was that at home?
Yeah, it was at home.
Oh, so you definitely connected.
Speaker 2 (12:14):
I had like seven, threes or five.
I Was that at home.
Yeah, it was home.
I had like seven, threes orfive.
I had a lot of threes.
It was energetic in here.
It was a lot of people.
Every three it was boom, it wasnice.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
And then your sophomore year you played cross
Was the year you broke theall-time scoring record for the
school.
Speaker 2 (12:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
What was it?
49 points.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
Yeah, I had 49.
Speaker 1 (12:34):
Yeah, wow.
So that just must bring highlevel from you when you play
them.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
So best moment of your basketball career so far,
I'd probably say winning thefirst state championship.
Just like I couldn't, it didn'teven feel real, like that day
did not feel real at all Veryspecial, I mean that was the
first one for the school.
Yeah first one for the school.
It just it was.
It couldn't, it didn't feelreal.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
Yeah, that was an awesome game as well, yeah, so
we're going to wrap up with whatis your ultimate basketball
goal.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
I would say my ultimate basketball goal is to
make it to the NBA and, like,stay in the NBA for multiple
years.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
So like be a role player in the NBA?
Speaker 1 (13:09):
Yeah you can do it.
I have faith in you.
You'll definitely do it Allright.
So thank you, abdu Tori, forjoining me on the CIC Glorities
podcast.
It's truly been awesome beingable to know you these four
years and to see you develop andgrow on that core.
It's been awesome to watch.
So I wish you the best of luckthis upcoming season.
I can't wait to hear where youdecide to go.
Speaker 2 (13:28):
Thank you.
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