Yohan Traore, a 6-11 forward who spent last season at SMU, has signed an athletic aid agreement to join the Butler Basketball program for the upcoming 2025-26 season.
 
Traore averaged 6.1 points and 3.2 rebounds per game for SMU during the 2024-25 season, shooting better than 50 percent from the field. He made 16 starts, playing in 32 of SMU's 35 contests (missing those three games due to injury). Traore helped the Mustangs to 24 wins and a No. 1 seed in the 2025 NIT.
 
Originally from Tours, France, Traore was a consensus five-star recruit coming out of high school. Ranked as the No. 8 prospect in the Class of 2022 by both Rivals and Sports Illustrated (and 15^th by 247sports), Traore began his career at Auburn before spending his sophomore season at UC Santa Barbara.
 
"Yohan is another significant addition to our roster and he's a great fit for the culture we continue to build here at Butler. He has experience playing in power conferences, and earned All-Big West honors as a sophomore," said Butler head coach Thad Matta. "He attacks the glass, especially on the offensive end, and has the ability to score at the rim, facing up, and from three-point range. He has an imposing frame that will help our team defensively. It will be great to get him on campus soon."
 
Traore earned All-Big West honorable mention honors while at UC Santa Barbara during his sophomore season (2023-24). At UCSB, he averaged 14.5 points and 5.1 rebounds, shooting 58 percent. He scored in double figures in 24 of his 30 games. Traore appeared in 25 games as a freshman at Auburn during the 2022-23 campaign.
 
Traore is the fifth transfer addition who has been announced for the Bulldogs' 2025-26 roster, joining Michael Ajayi (Gonzaga), Jalen Jackson (Purdue Fort Wayne), Drayton Jones (South Carolina State) and Yame Butler (Drexel).
 
Season tickets for the upcoming 2025-26 basketball season are on sale now. Additional updates on Butler's non-conference schedule will be announced soon. The Bulldogs will also once again host all 10 BIG EAST rivals at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Fans can email tickets@butler.edu or call the ticket office at 317-940-3647 for more information on securing season tickets.