BREAKING NEWS: Nebraska Basketball transfer portal tracker sideline with enormous agreement
The college basketball transfer portal opened on March 18 and will stay open until May 1, and Nebraska basketball will be actively participating in it once again.
The Huskers have several roster spots to fill and need to work on building their roster for the upcoming season.
Brice Williams and Juwan Gary have already confirmed their return for next season, while Nebraska is still waiting on a decision from Rienk Mast regarding his future plans.
“This starts now,” said Hoiberg just minutes after Nebraska’s elimination from the NCAA Tournament. “It used to be that you could take a breather when the season ended, but not anymore. It’s straight back to work. We’re already making calls and handling those matters. We’ll meet with each of our players individually in the next few days to figure out the best way to construct our roster and get past this hurdle.”
Here is a summary of the transfer portal activity, both incoming and outgoing, for Nebraska basketball this offseason.
Lloyd, a former three-star recruit from Sierra Canyon High School in California, redshirted his first season at Lincoln and did not appear in a game for the Huskers this year.
The 6-foot-6, 210-pound player chose Nebraska over offers from Arkansas, Oregon, Arizona State, and Georgetown, among others.
Lloyd’s most notable performances occurred during the Huskers’ trip to Spain last summer. Playing various backcourt positions, he averaged 5.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.0 steals per game. He ranked second on the team in rebounding, third in both assists and steals, and led the team with a 4-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio during the trip.
Destination: Reports on May 2 indicated that Lloyd will transfer to Long Beach State.
Rice showed promise during his true freshman season for Nebraska, displaying a smooth shooting stroke and hitting several key 3-pointers, including crucial shots off the bench in wins against Kansas State and Michigan State.
Rice finished the season averaging 4.2 points and 1.6 assists, with a shooting percentage of 41.3%. His last game before his injury was on January 27, where he scored five points, grabbed four rebounds, and played 18 minutes in a road loss to Maryland. He shot 37% from behind the arc.
On April 18, Rice announced that he will transfer to Penn State.
The Husker shooting guard graduated in December and was honored on Senior Day, but he still has another year of eligibility remaining.
Wilcher was a key contributor to Nebraska’s 8-man rotation during their run to the NCAA Tournament this year, marking their first appearance in a decade. Wilcher, the most notable departure so far, spent three years in the program and averaged 7.7 points per game with a 45 percent shooting percentage this season.
Although his scoring dipped in the last month of the season, he had a memorable 22-point performance against Wisconsin on February 1, sparking a dramatic Husker comeback in one of the season’s most critical games. This game capped a stretch where he scored in double figures in nine of 11 games, making him a contender for the Big Ten’s Sixth Man of the Year honors.
Wilcher announced his commitment to Texas A&M on April 22.
Lawrence was a crucial part of Nebraska’s eight-man rotation as a sophomore this past season, helping the team reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 10 years.
Initially starting as he adjusted to the point guard position, he found his stride coming off the bench later in the season. Lawrence ended the year averaging 6.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. He shot 42 percent from the field and 35.6 percent from 3-point range, adapting to a new role after primarily playing as an off guard during his freshman year.
On April 16, Lawrence announced that he will transfer to Rhode Island.
The 6-foot-10, 210-pound Diop, originally from Dakar, Senegal, joined the Nebraska roster as a late addition at the start of the fall semester.
A raw, reserve post player, Diop played 72 minutes across 19 games last season as a true freshman. He made 6-of-12 field goals, including a 3-pointer in Nebraska’s win over Michigan in February. With a 7-foot-2 wingspan, Diop grabbed 17 total rebounds and blocked three shots.
On April 18, Diop announced that he will transfer to Loyola Marymount.
After spending the past three years at Utah, Rollie Worster entered the transfer portal and revealed his decision to join the Nebraska program via social media on April 15.
Worster brings a wealth of experience to the Huskers as a seasoned point guard, having averaged 9.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game last season for Utah before his season was cut short due to injury in January. Standing at 6-foot-4, Worster started 76 games over three years for the Utes, initially playing his freshman year at Utah State under former Husker assistant Craig Smith. Following Smith’s transition to head coach at Utah, Worster followed suit.
During the 2022-23 season, Worster maintained an average of five assists per game, showcasing his playmaking abilities. In total, he started 101 games for Smith’s teams across both schools.
IN: RUTGERS FORWARD GAVIN GIFFITHS (APRIL 16)
A forward standing at 6-foot-8 and weighing 195 pounds from Simsbury (Conn.) Griffiths, recorded averages of 5.5 points and 2.2 rebounds in 17.8 minutes per game for the Scarlet Knights in the previous season.
His choice to commit to the Cornhuskers follows a visit to campus over the weekend, opting for Nebraska after seriously contemplating Providence as well.
Griffiths, a former four-star prospect, was ranked as the No. 67 overall recruit in the national 2023 class.
Essegian, a guard standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing 195 pounds, hails from Fort Wayne, Indiana. He has spent the previous two years at Wisconsin and will retain two years of eligibility.
During the 2023-24 season, Essegian participated in 33 games for the Badgers, averaging 3.2 points per game. Wisconsin achieved a record of 22-14 and made it to the NCAA Tournament. Essegian notably had two double-figure scoring performances, including a season-best 15 points against Rutgers and 12 points, which included four 3-pointers, in a victory over the Huskers in Madison.
In the 2022-23 season, Essegian made a significant impact as one of the top freshmen in the Big Ten. He contributed to Wisconsin’s 20 wins and appearance in the NIT semifinals. Recognized for his performance, he earned a spot on the Big Ten All-Freshman team. Throughout the season, he played in all 35 games, starting in 19, and averaged 11.7 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. Essegian ranked third on the team in scoring and became only the fourth Wisconsin freshman in the last 25 years to achieve double-figure scoring averages.
Meah, standing tall at 7-foot-1 and weighing 250 pounds, spent two seasons showcasing his skills at Washington. Last season, despite battling an ankle injury for a significant portion, he managed to contribute 5.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game across 32 games, 16 of which he started. His standout performance came against UCLA, where he recorded 19 points and eight rebounds. Upon his arrival in Lincoln, Meah will have one more season of eligibility left.
During his junior year at Washington, Meah displayed consistency by starting in all 31 games, averaging 8.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, and more than one block per game. His impressive defensive prowess earned him a spot on the Pac-12’s All-Defense team. Over his tenure at Washington, Meah accumulated a total of 77 blocks.
Meah’s collegiate journey began at Fresno State, where he spent two seasons, contributing 2.2 points and 2.2 rebounds per game during his sophomore year. Coming out of high school, he was regarded as a three-star prospect by 247Sports, boasting an overall rating of 89.