Rising juniors Ashtyn Verbeek and Kayla Mershon have decided to transfer from the Nebraska women’s basketball program. Both are heading home to finish their careers.
Verbeek will transfer to Dordt University in Sioux Center, Iowa (News release). Verbeek graduated is a native of Sioux Center and indicated a desire to be close to home as her reason for transferring.
Verbeek impressed as part of a fabulous four-player freshman class in the 2018-19 season. She was a strong offensive player early and worked during the offseason to improve her defense. As a result, she earned a spot in the starting lineup as a sophomore for the 2019-20 season. She missed one game due to injury and averaged 7.4 points and 4.3 rebounds. Those rank 7th and 3rd respectively for the Husker team. She also averaged 21 minutes per game.
Kayla Mershon was tapped to join the starting lineup during the second half of her freshman season, largely because of her abilities as a defender. She was passed up by Verbeek for the starting post position alongside center Kate Cain at the beginning of the 2019-20 campaign. She averaged 11.7 minutes/game, scoring an average of 1.6 points and grabbing 2.5 rebounds.
She announced via social media that she intends to transfer to the University of Minnesota. She is a native of Chanhassen, MN.
Ready for my next chapter.... pic.twitter.com/HFa6Zzx8WR
— Kayla Mershon (@kayla_mershon) March 25, 2020
This leaves rising sophomore Isabelle Bourne as the likely front court starter next to Kate Cain next year. Bourne averaged 5.9 points and 4.4 rebounds/game and impressed on both ends of the court in her first season.
We wish both players success as they head home to finish their careers. Given the scary times we are living in, it is hard to begrudge anyone who wants to be near their family right now.
These moves do leave the Husker women perilously short on depth at post for 2020-21 with Grace Mitchell’s graduation and these transfers. The incoming freshman class includes two guards and one forward, 6’3” Annika Stewart from Minneapolis, MN. I expect Amy Williams will scour the transfer portal to find another “big” (or two) and to place additional emphasis on this position for the 2021 recruiting class.