Nebraska Basketball Recruiting: What to Expect

As the Nebraska basketball team looks to rebuild under new Head Coach Fred Hoiberg, expect the recruiting process to be a big part of that. Here’s what to expect from the Huskers on the recruiting trail

Introduction

It’s no secret that the Nebraska Basketball team is in a bit of a rebuilding phase. After missing out on the NCAA tournament for the second consecutive season, head coach Tim Miles and his staff are tasked with getting the program back on track.

One of the first steps in that process is recruiting, and the Cornhuskers have already made some noise on that front. In late April, Nebraska landed a commitment from four-star Power Forward Isaac Copeland, who is widely considered to be one of the best players in the class of 2016.

While Copeland is a nice start, Miles and Co. will need to do more if they want to compete with the likes of Kansas, Iowa State and Oklahoma for a spot in the NCAA Tournament With that being said, here’s a look at what to expect from Nebraska Basketball Recruiting as we head into the summer.

The Current Roster

As of now, the Huskers have 12 scholarship players for the 2019-20 season

-Sophomores: Thomas Allen, Sam Haiby, Isaia Cordinier, Yvan Ouedraogo
-Juniors: Dachon Burke Jr.,Thorir Thorbjarnarson, Matej Kavas
-Seniors: Glynn Watson Jr., James Palmer Jr., Isaac Copeland Jr., Isaiah Roby, Anton Gill
-Graduate Transfer: Haanif Cheatham

It is expected that Burke, Thorbjarnarson, Kavas, Palmer, Copeland, and Roby will all see significant time in the rotation. Haiby will most likely be the 6th man and come off the bench to provide a scoring spark. Gill will be looking to earn minutes after only averaging 2.7 points last season. The two newcomers, Allen and Cordinier, will be fighting for playing time as well.

The Recruiting Process

The recruiting process for Nebraska Basketball can be long and frustrating for some. It often takes many years to land a top recruit, and even then there is no guarantee that the player will pan out. However, the process is essential for building a successful program. Here is a look at what to expect during the recruiting process

1. Identify targets: The first step in the recruiting process is identifying potential recruits. The Nebraska Coaching Staff will use a variety of methods to identify potential recruits, such as scouting High School games, watching AAU games, and reviewing game film.

2. Contact players: Once potential recruits have been identified, the next step is to contact them and express interest in having them join the program. This usually involves sending letters and making phone calls.

3. Host visits: One of the most important steps in the recruiting process is hosting visits from recruits. During these visits, recruits will have an opportunity to meet the coaching staff tour the facilities, and see what life would be like as a member of the team.

4. Offer scholarships: If everything goes well during the visit, the next step is to offer a scholarship to the recruit. This is often a difficult decision for coaches, as they only have a limited number of scholarships available each year.

5.Signing Day The final step in the recruiting process is Signing Day when recruits officially become members of the team by signing their National Letter of Intent (NLI).

Official Visits

Nebraska is allowed to bring in as many as six official visitors at one time during the recruiting cycle. That number is generally reserved for the weekend before Signing Day, but other times of the year can see four or five official visitors on campus.

Typically, most of Nebraska’s official visitors are committed elsewhere, but are taking their final trips to confirm their decision or to compare Nebraska to their other finalists. uncommitted recruits will visit for their final trip with the hopes of earning a late offer and committing on the spot.

Unofficial Visits

high school recruits can take five official visits, expense-paid trips to campuses, during their senior year. They often take many more unofficial visits, at their own expense or that of a friend or family member, during their junior and senior years. Colleges aren’t allowed to have contact with recruits during unofficial visits, but the recruit can talk to as many people as he or she wants while on campus.

The Verbal Commitment

Although a verbal commitment is non-binding, it is an important part of the recruiting process. A verbal commitment indicates that a recruit is interested in attending a particular school and has made that school their top choice Once a recruit makes a verbal commitment, they are not allowed to entertain offers from other schools.

Signing Day

Nebraska Basketball is gearing up for signing day on November 11th. Here’s a look at what to expect.

The Huskers currently have five commitments in their 2020 class: four-star small forward Matthew Anderson, four-star power forward Nana Akenten, three-star center Yvan Ouedraogo, three-star point guard Porsche Scott and three-star small forward Shamiel Stevenson.

They are also in the mix for a number of other high-profile recruits, including five-star shooting guard Josh Christopher five-star power forward Greg Brown five-star point guard RJ Hampton and four-star shooting guard Devin Askew

Nebraska’s 2020 class is currently ranked No. 9 in the nation by 247Sports Composite.

The National Letter of Intent

The National Letter of Intent (NLI) is a document used to indicate a student-athlete’s commitment to participate in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I or II athletics at a specific college or university. The NLI program exists to protect student-athletes from being recruited by more than one school. When an athlete signs an NLI, they agree to attend the designated school for one academic year. No other school can recruit the student-athlete for that same sport during that time period. If an athlete does not fulfill their commitment and decides to attend another school, they may be subject to penalties, including losing a year of eligibility and sitting out a season.

The Recruiting Calendar

The recruiting calendar is important to understand because it can help you know when a decision is coming and how long you have to wait. It also helps to know when offers are extended and when visits occur. Here is a quick overview of the recruiting calendar.

The recruiting process begins in September and can go through August of the following year. September 1st is the first day that college coaches can contact prospective student-athletes by telephone, mail, or in person off of the college campus. The contact period ends on May 31st. college coaches are allowed to have face-to-face contact with recruits during what are called evaluation periods. There are four evaluation periods in which coaches can come watch you play:
September 21st-October 18th
October 19th-November 16th
April 10th-May 8th
May 9th-June 6th
There are also two quiet periods in which coaches cannot have any contact with recruits:
December 1st-January 31st
July 1st until the start of the next academic year

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Nebraska basketball team is in a good position to improve its roster for the upcoming season The Coaching Staff has been active on the recruiting trail and has secured commitments from some talented players.

The biggest need for the Huskers is at the point guard position, and they have targeted several players who could fill that role. With a few more recruits, Nebraska should be able to put together a competitive team that can make a run at the NCAA tournament