Nebraska forward Rienk Mast to have surgery, will redshirt 2024-25 season

Nebraska men’s basketball forward Rienk Mast will miss the 2024-25 season for the Cornhuskers, he announced on Thursday. Mast will be undergoing surgery to mend his knee, which will cause him to miss the upcoming season.

With one year of college eligibility remaining, Mast plans to medically redshirt this upcoming season. That would leave his final year intact and clear the way for him to rejoin the lineup in fall of 2025.

He released a thorough statement on the matter.

“Husker nation, this past season was one of the most fun years of my life,” Mast said in the statement. “Thank you for taking me in and giving me another place that feels like home. As some people know, I played most of last season with a knee that wasn’t completely healthy. Over these past couple weeks, I’ve spoken with multiple doctors about what we can do to get my knee healthy for the rest of my playing career and hopefully life. These have been some difficult conversations, but the best way forward for me is to undergo surgery.

This was not an easy decision, as it will mean I will have to medically redshirt the 2024-25 season, while still maintaining my last year of eligibility. I want to thank everyone involved with our athletic department and men’s basketball team for the support they have shown me. This upcoming yea will be very challenging for me individually, but I’ll try to help the team in the best possible way I can.”

Head coach Fred Hoiberg also addressed the situation shortly after Mast made it public.

He specified that the coaches and player were in agreement on this being the necessary course of treatment, and that Mast would still be playing a role on the team this upcoming season.

“Rienk has put a lot of thought into this decision and worked closely with our medical staff in looking at all of the options to get his knee healthy,” Hoiberg said in a statement. “He has been in contact with our staff throughout the process, and we are in agreement that this is Rienk’s best long-term option for his basketball career. Although he will not be on the court next season, Rienk will have a different role, one where we can take advantage of his experience and leadership skills. We know that Rienk will be diligent in his rehab and will do everything he can to return to full health.”