Nebrasketball Player Profile: Quaran McPherson

On May 3rd 2021, a few weeks after the spring signing period that landed Nebraska basketball’s recruiting class in the top 15 nationally, Quaran McPherson committed to the Huskers, too.

Who’s that? you ask. Why is Fred Hoiberg adding another dude who won’t play since the roster is so stacked now?

“Quaran gives us a combo guard with size and toughness,” Hoiberg said shortly after he signed. “He’s a physical guard who can score at all three levels and has a good understanding of the game. The thing that stands out about Quaran is that he loves to compete, and he’s been around successful programs, so he understands what it takes to win.”

McPherson hails from Queens, NY, and played at Christ the King High School. It’s a nationally known basketball school, producing the likes of Lamar Odom and Sue Bird. During his sophomore year, he played with Illinois center Kofi Cockburn. The next season, he injured his knee, and some recruiting interest waned.

Originally a member of the 2020 class, McPherson chose to play his senior season at Woodstock Academy in Connecticut, where he averaged 14.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. He would’ve played on Woodstock’s post-grad team were their season canceled due to Covid restrictions.

McPherson then transferred to Link Year Prep School in Branson, MO, and was a part of the runner-up squad at the 2021 Post Grad Nationals, finishing 26-4 on the season. He averaged 19/7/4, all the while staying in contact with Nebraska assistant coach Matt Abdelmassih, who knew of McPherson from his time as a member of St. John’s coaching staff.

In November 2020, McPherson put on a show at the Pangos All-American Camp in Las Vegas, scoring 29 points in one game. That performance earned him a Nebrasketball scholarship offer. In addition to his relationship with Abdelmassih, NU’s style of play fits his game well. He is also close to fellow incoming freshman CJ Wilcher, who he has known since 6th grade.

A 6-foot-4, 180-pound combo-guard is a consensus 3-star prospect. He will compete for playing time with his friend Wilcher, the McGowens brothers, super-senior Kobe Webster, and incoming Japanese sharpshooter Keisei Tominaga.

Perhaps McPherson can carve out a niche with his defense, as some teammates have noted his skill on that end of the floor. “If you can’t defend nobody, you can’t play at no level,” he said when meeting the Husker media on July 27th. “You gotta be able to guard somebody – that’s your grit, how you feel about that person scoring on you, how you take it personally. So I feel like if you got the ball and I can take the ball from you every time, I’m gonna take the ball.”

Auburn, UConn, Arizona State, and Georgia were among the power programs interested in McPherson. But he’s here in Lincoln, where the Huskers will start their season 98 days from today against Western Illinois.