Hoiberg gives updates on Ulis, Buyuktuncel, and more as summer workouts begin

Nebraska basketball unofficially tipped off its 2024-25 season with its first summer workouts on Wednesday.

The Huskers broke into three small groups, focusing mainly on fundamentals and skill work. The opening session also provided a glimpse of NU’s strong veteran leadership.

Key contributors Brice Williams, Juwan Gary, Sam Hoiberg, and Rienk Mast (season-ending surgery) returned from last year’s NCAA Tournament run. Nebraska also added six impact transfers this offseason, including five from high-major programs.

Over the past three recruiting cycles, head coach Fred Hoiberg and his staff have embraced a get old, stay old philosophy. On Wednesday, when Williams stopped a drill to explain some terminology to Wisconsin junior transfer Connor Essegian, it showed precisely why.

“Our big message to our team this year is, we got there a year ago, now we’ve got to take the next step,” Hoiberg told the Huskers Radio Network on Wednesday. “Now, we need to take this program to where it’s never been before. I think our guys are up to the challenge.

“It’s a team where there’s going to be expectations going into the season… Now, it’s about taking the next step. Again, I’m confident with this group that we’re going to put ourselves in a really good position.”

Point guard Ahron Ulis is good to go for 2024-25

It’s been a long calendar year for Ahron Ulis, but he’s officially reached the light at the end of the tunnel.

The NCAA ruled the former Iowa transfer ineligible shortly after transferring to Nebraska amid the fallout of an Iowa sports gambling investigation. Ulis watched last season from the sidelines and did his best to help the Huskers on the scout team.

After a frustrating past 12 months, the Chicago native is officially back in the mix in Lincoln. Hoiberg confirmed that Ulis was fully eligible for the 2024-25 season.

“He’s good to go,” Hoiberg said. “He’ll be fully eligible from the very first game this year.”

While the news was somewhat expected, it provided closure on Ulis’s status. It also gives Nebraska a veteran point guard combo loaded with experience, along with Utah transfer Rollie Worster.

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Delayed arrivals for Berke Buyuktuncel, Braxton Meah

All of Nebraska’s players were present and accounted for during Wednesday’s opening workouts, apart from two recent additions.

UCLA transfer Berke Buyuktuncel and Washington transfer Braxton Meah will arrive in Lincoln a bit later than their new teammates.

Hoiberg said the 7-foot-1 Meah was finishing up classes at UW and would get to campus next week. Buyuktuncel, though, won’t make it to town for another couple of months.

That’s because the 6-9 forward left Wednesday for his native Turkey to begin training with the Turkish national team. As a result, Buyuktuncel likely won’t return to Lincoln until closer to the start of the fall semester in August.

Around the rim

***Hoiberg said Mast was recovering well from his season-ending knee surgery last month. Chicago Bulls team doctor Brian Cole, whom Hoiberg called “the leading expert in the world in cartilage regeneration,” performed the procedure.

The best news was that Cole found the senior forward’s knee was “totally intact,” meaning Mast should fully recover.

***Hoiberg said Worster’s leadership was immediately apparent during Wednesday’s workouts. Along with being a vocal leader, Worster has been diligent about improving his shooting mechanics.

***Hoiberg called Essegian “one of the best shooters in the country.” Part of that was watching the guard hit four 3-pointers against Nebraska in Madison last season.

But Hoiberg also pointed to Essegian’s UW freshman record of 69 made threes in 2022-23. In comparison, Keisei Tominaga hit 75 last year as a senior.

***The first word Hoiberg used to describe Rutgers transfer Gavin Griffiths was “long.” At 6-8 with a 7-foot wingspan, it’s an accurate description.

“He fits how we play,” Hoiberg said. “He’s got a flawless shooting stroke… I expect a big year out of Gavin.”

***A player who could change Nebraska’s game plans more than anyone else is Meah.

“At any level, I’ve never had a guy like him,” Hoiberg said of the former Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year.

While Meah regressed last season after an impressive 2022-23 campaign, Hoiberg said much of that was due to him playing through a misdiagnosed broken thumb.

Hoiberg called Meah “an elite rim protector” who could catch and finish lobs at a high rate.

***Nebraska’s 2024-25 roster lists Buyuktuncel at 6-9 and 245 pounds. However, Hoiberg said the sophomore was likely even bigger than that.

When he was in Lincoln for his official visit last month, Hoiberg said Buyuktuncel “was even a little bit taller than Rienk (6-10, 248), if that gives you any type of perspective on it.”

***Hoiberg said true freshman Braden Frager was still recovering from offseason wrist surgery. Frager likely won’t be ready for full basketball activity until the start of fall workouts in September.

However, Hoiberg said the former Lincoln Southwest standout was making the most of his recovery. Like Gary, following his offseason shoulder surgery a year ago, Frager has focused on his form shooting.

Hoiberg said the 6-7 forward had also put on 12 pounds of muscle since the end of his high school season.

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