Abukar, a four-year regular at Apollo, drew notice last spring when he led his Eagles to the state tournament, then underwent surgery one day before that meet to give a bone marrow transplant to his younger sister Zam Zam to save her in her battle with leukemia.

 

He returned to the court for the state game which Apollo lost in overtime to Orono, the eventual state champion.

 

He was headed to Moorhead for a college career before pulling out to remain home to be nearer to his family.