Nebrasketball: Preseason Player Rundown

Fred Hoiberg came into Lincoln and cleaned house. As in everyone but two players who were coached under Tim Miles. Dachon Burk Jr. who did not play last season and Thorir Thorbajarnarson are those two returners. Most coaches come in to replace staff and hopefully have half of the roster they inherited make it to fall camp. Fred not only replaced the coaches but almost the entire roster.

What you get today is a brief rundown of each player currently in the system. Some of which we know very little about. In the coming weeks we will give you more in depth articles on these players. Right up until the first game in November. Ideally, you will have a better clue what this years Nebrasketball squad will have in store for our viewing pleasure.

Dachon Burke Jr.

Jr. Orange, N.J. (Robert Morris) (Coastal Academy)

Dachon transferred to Nebraska from Robert Morris last September. He sat out this past year and is now eligible. The junior guard is 6’4” and should see time this upcoming season.

Thorir Thorbjarnarson

Jr. Reykjavik, Iceland (Menntaskólinn i Reykjavik)

Thorir is the one player on this years squad that saw the court last season. He is 6’6” of pure Icelandic basketball power. The junior from the capital city of Reykjavik averaged 12.3 minutes per game last year which will not give him enough highlights for his reel but he should have a leg up on competing in the Big Ten.

Akol Arop

Fr. Omaha, Neb. (Creighton Prep)

Akol is a coveted freshman from Creighton Prep that the Huskers pulled in from Omaha. He was the top high school player in the state of Nebraska. Akol needs some work but should fit in well to the Huskers new system as time goes on.

Dalano Banton

So. Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Western Kentucky) (Redemption Christian Academy)

Here we have one of Fred Hoiberg’s transfers. This one comes to us from the Hilltoppers. He only played on year for the Western Kentucky and will have three to compete after sitting out this upcoming season.

Haanif Cheatham

Sr. Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (Marquette/Florida Gulf Coast) (Pembroke Pines)

Another transfer and this one comes from two schools, Marquette and Florida Gulf Coast. He was an all Big East Freshman team member at Marquette. Haanif transferred to Florida Gulf Coast after his sophomore year where he averaged 8.2 points and 2.8 rebounds in five games before transferring out of the program and landing with Nebraska.

Kevin Cross

Fr. Little Rock, Ark. (Mills University Studies)

Kevin comes to Nebraska being one of the top recruits out of the state of Arkansas. The 6’8” forward was picked up by Hoiberg who beat out Oklahoma State and TCU for his services.

Samari Curtis

Fr. Xenia, Ohio (Xenia)Charlie Easley

The Huskers picked up Mr. Ohio Basketball 2019 over the likes of Cincinnati, Dayton, and Xavier. He averaged a whopping 33.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game his senior year of high school. Some of that was his talent and some of that was inferior competition at his high school’s class level. Samari will be a good player down the road but will need to earn his bumps before we see much of him.

Charlie Easley

Fr. Lincoln, Neb. (Pius X)

Charlie is an instate walk on for the Huskers. He is 6’2 and 190 pounds and lead Pius X to a Class B State Championship his senior year. I would expect him to earn is stripes this year in The Hendricks Center during practice before we see much of him anytime in the future.

Jervay Green

Jr. Denver, Colo. (Western Nebraska CC) (George Washington)

Jervay was a commit from the Tim Miles era at Nebraska who quickly decided to stay with the Huskers. Whatever he saw in Fred made him want to stay and be apart of the rebuild in Lincoln. He was a Second Team NJCC All American this past year and ended his career at Western Nebraska CC as the second all time scorer with 1,278 points.

Matej Kavas

Sr. Ljubljana, Slovenia (Seattle) (Gimnazija Bezigrad)

Matej has one year left in his collegiate career and he decided to spend it at Nebraska. He is also one in a long line of current Husker players that I will have a hard time pronouncing this upcoming year. The Slovenian is clutch beyond the arch which will be key for the development of Hoiberg’s offense.

Cam Mack

So. Austin, Texas (Stephen F. Austin/Salt Lake CC) (Christian Life Prep)

Cam comes to Pinnacle Bank Arena after spending his past year in Utah. He’s a 6’1” 170 pound guard who averaged 19.1 points per game. If he can improve his defense then the Huskers should see an improved offense lead by Cam.

Yvan Ouedraogo

Fr. Bordeaux, France (National Institute of Sport, Expertise, and Performance)

Bourdeaux is 6’9” and there is little video on him. Even so, there is a lot of talk that he will see the court quite a bit this upcoming season. He is currently playing in the FIBA Euros and will miss the team trip to Italy.

Jace Piatkowski

Fr. Omaha, Neb. (Elkhorn South)

Piatkowski! Yes, the son of Nebrasketball legend Eric Piatkowski will walk-on to the team this upcoming year. He averaged 18.6 points and 3.3 rebounds per game for Millard South. I would expect to see his father around more now that his son is following in his footsteps.

Bret Porter

Fr. Omaha, Neb. (Millard North)

Bret is a bit of a Husker legacy. His father, grandfather, and great grandfather all played football for Nebraska. Now, he get’s to try a forge his own path in the athletic department as a walk-on.

Shamiel Stevenson

Jr. Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Pitt/Nevada) (Hillcrest Prep (Arizona))

Another Canuck has made his way to Lincoln. Well, via Arizona for high school and stops at Pitt and Nevada before finding his current home with the Cornhuskers.

Derrick Walker

Jr. Kansas City, Mo. (Tennessee) (Sunrise Christian Academy)

Mr. Walker was the #2 player in Missouri coming out of high school. He was picked up by Tennessee where he played with one of the top teams in the nation the past two years. Derrick did not get the most amount of playing time while a volunteer but should see some in Lincoln. He will sit out this season.