He arrived at Georgetown with the label of a "defensive specialist", which to Hoya fans of the 1990's often referred to a hard working player with little or no impact in the scoring column. No one doubted Boubacar Aw's defensive intensity, but over his four years he established himself as an effective scorer and rebounder in the later stages of the John Thompson era.

Aw was a backup in all 30 games his freshmen season, saving some of his best efforts against Connecticut, averaging 15.5 points and five rebounds in two late season games. Promoted to starting forward alongside Jerome Williams in 1995-96, he started every game during the Hoyas' Elite Eight run. Despite being the fifth option on a starting five that included three future NBA stars, Aw could be an offensive threat when called upon, including an 11 point, five rebound effort against UConn in February, 1996. Ironically, given his previous efforts against the Huskies, Aw played sparingly in the legendary 1996 Big East final between the schools, seeing only 15 minutes of action.

With the graduations of Othella Harrington and Jerome Williams, Aw assumed a leadership role in the 1996-97 frontcourt. He scored in 29 of 30 games, with double figures in 12 of them. Aw scored a career high 16 points and nine rebounds against Charlotte in the 1997 NCAA's before fouling out, one of only five foul outs during his entire career.

For his senior year in 1997-98, Aw was sometimes the only offensive option on a depleted roster that was reduced to as few as seven players at one point. With season-ending injuries to Jahidi White and Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje in December and the mid-season exodus of Kenny Brunner, Aw stepped up the scoring, with double figures in 13 of his final 18 games, including a remarkable 21 point, 18 rebound effort against Seton Hall and leading his team in scoring in six consecutive games. Aw finished the season second in overall scoring to Shernard Long but first among his teammates in scoring for Big East games, with 211 points in 18 games.

Like many players of his era, Boubacar Aw's Achilles heel was free throw shooting--he shot only slightly better from the line (53.2%) than he did from the field (52.1%). One of Aw's greatest games was indicative of this frustration. On the night of Feb. 17, 1998, Aw scored a career high 24 points against Pittsburgh in a game where the Hoyas shot 34% and scored a season low 19 field goals, Georgetown hung in against on what can only be called a magical night of free throw shooting.

A 60% free throw shooting team entering the game, the Hoyas connected on 24 of 28 free throws in the first half and 14 of 17 in the second entering the final play of the game, when Aw was fouled with two seconds to play trailing 80-78. Shooting 7 of 8 from the line for the game, a personal best, Aw made the first, but missed the second, and the Hoyas lost by one. The Pitt loss was one of three late season losses by a single point that ultimately cost the Hoyas a chance at an NCAA bid.

Following graduation, Aw continued his basketball play overseas, averaging 20 points a game in his rookie season in Argentina, and played in Argentina for four years before joining the Senegalese national team, where he was named their 2005 MVP.