Report: UCLA transfer Berke Buyuktuncel commits to Nebraska

Former UCLA forward Berke Buyuktuncel has committed to Nebraska, per ESPN’s Jonathan Givony. Buyuktuncel only spent one season with the Bruins.

In his lone season at UCLA, Buyuktuncel appeared in 26 games and made eight starts. He averaged 4.5 points and 2.5 rebounds per game while shooting 38.5% from the field and 29.7% from beyond the arc. He played 16.3 minutes per contest.

Buyuktuncel missed the first three games of the season while he waited for the NCAA to grant him eligibility. Additionally, Buyuktuncel was absent during three games in December after suffering a right ankle injury.

While the 6-foot-9 forward’s averages don’t leap off the page, he certainly showed flashes of greatness. He scored double-digits in back-to-back games against Oregon and Stanford, shooting above 50% from the field in both outings.

Before playing at UCLA, Buyuktuncel attended Ozluce Doga Kolegi in Bursa, Turkey. In the summer of 2023, Buyuktuncel helped Turkey finish in third place at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup.

In Turkey’s 84-70 win over the United States at the event, Buyuktuncel erupted for 19 points, four rebounds, five assists and two steals. For his efforts, he was one of five standout players named to the “All-Star Five” at the 2023 FIBA U19 World Cup.

Buyuktuncel is the sixth player Nebraska has added via the transfer portal this offseason, earning the No. 10 spot in On3’s Transfer Portal Team Rankings. He was also reportedly recruited by Ohio State and Kentucky in the portal.

Berke Buyuktuncel will be an excellent addition to Nebraska’s growing program. In his fifth year at the helm of the program, head coach Fred Hoiberg led the Cornhuskers to a 23-11 record this season, the best under his supervision.

Moreover, Nebraska reached the NCAA Tournament, the program’s first appearance in the event since 2019. Now, with Buyuktuncel by his side, Hoiberg will look to hoist Nebraska to even greater heights.

Experts are undoubtedly confident in Buyuktuncel’s potential. In ESPN’s latest 2025 NBA mock draft, Jonathan Givony projected Buyuktuncel to be the No. 42 overall pick. With a little luck, Buyuktuncel could follow the trajectory of former Nebraska forward Dalano Banton, who was selected in the 2021 NBA Draft.

Banton also spent the first year of his collegiate career at another school before transferring to Nebraska and making a name for himself.

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. 

The On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account and Twitter account are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves.