Nebraska basketball is fresh off its best season in a decade. But if the Huskers want to get back to the NCAA tournament and lord willing, win a game, they need to make some moves.
Josiah Allick and Keisei Tominaga are out of eligibility. The Huskers have also lost three players to the transfer portal since Monday with Eli Rice, Ramel Lloyd, and Blaise Keita all entering. Rice might be the only surprise in the group after the others battled injuries.
Their departures leave Nebraska basketball with four open scholarships for the 2024-25 season. They need another big man and it would help if the Huskers could find a rim protector. Allick was a really good interior defender and Nebraska is in touch with the perfect replacement — William Kyle III.
The perfect portal target for Nebraska basketball
Kyle is from Bellevue, Nebraska, and entered the transfer portal after two stellar seasons at South Dakota State. The 6-foot-9, 215-pounder was the Summit League Defensive Player of the Year. The big man averaged 1.6 blocks per game along with 6.6 rebounds and 13.1 points per game. He also averaged 1.7 assists and notably hasn’t attempted a single 3-point shot in his college career.
That doesn’t exactly scream Fred Hoiberg. But the loss to Texas A&M, and Illinois, were reminders that Nebraska has to get quicker and more physical inside. It also needs a rim protector.
Kyle won’t solve all those issues by himself. Nebraska needs a real point guard, preferably one who is a plus defender. Jamarques Lawrence and Sam Hoiberg are solid pieces. Rienk Mast, Juwan Gary, Brice Williams, and C.J. Wilcher — if they choose to return — would give the Huskers a solid nucleus.
But no team is ever the same. You’re either getting better or getting worse. Adding Kyle would make this team better. His best comparison might be Derrick Walker since he shoots 62 percent from the field. I don’t expect those numbers to translate 100 percent in the Big Ten — they didn’t with Allick.
However, his contributions on both ends would be massive, which is why over 20 schools have reached out since he entered the transfer portal. In-state transfers have worked out well the past two seasons and Kyle would too.
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