Tag: Berke Buyuktuncel

Nebraska’s Berke Büyüktuncel to play in FIBA U20 Eurobasket

Berke Buyuktuncel and the Republic of Tukiye will play in the 2024 FIBA U20 EuroBasket in Gdynia, Poland. 

A Nebraska sophomore will be in action in an international tournament this weekend. Berke Buyuktuncel and the Republic of Tukiye will play in the 2024 FIBA U20 EuroBasket in Gdynia, Poland.

Turkiye will face Belgium, North Macedonia and Spain in the group stage. The tournament will start with a game against Belgium on Saturday.

Isaac Trotter of 247Sports spoke very highly of the skilled big man.

“Really liked Berke Buyuktuncel’s film at the FIBA U19 World Cup last year. Freshman year at UCLA didn’t work out, but Nebraska is an ideal landing spot. Fred Hoiberg wants skilled bigs like Berke.”

As a freshman, Buyuktuncel appeared in 26 games for the UCLA Bruins before transferring during the offseason. He averaged 4.5 points and 2.5 rebounds per game.

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Former UCLA player Berke Buyuktuncel transfers to Nebraska

Berke Buyuktuncel to Nebraska.

The UCLA Bruins men’s basketball program has brought in a ton of talent via the transfer portal. However, one under-the-radar departure was Berke Buyuktuncel, who entered the portal following a number of moves.

He has now found a new home, joining the Nebraska Cornhuskers and staying in the Big Ten Conference, per a report from Jonathan Givony.

“NEWS: UCLA transfer Berke Buyuktuncel has committed to Nebraska, his NIL agent Egemen Onen told ESPN. The 6’9 power forward was one of the best remaining players in the NCAA transfer portal.”

There were a number of landing spots for Buyuktuncel, and he now stays in the Big Ten Conference and will join a team fresh off a trip to the NCAA Tournament.

Buyuktuncel averaged just 4.9 PPG with 2.7 rebounds in a limited role this past season for UCLA, and his usage should go up a lot with the move to Nebraska.

UCLA faces Nebraska on the road next season.

Nebraska lands high upside forward from UCLA in the transfer portal

Turkish forward Berke Buyuktuncel committed to join the Nebraska Cornhuskers out of UCLA via the transfer portal.

The Nebraska Cornhuskers made another addition to the frontcourt via the transfer portal, landing a commitment from UCLA forward Berke Buyuktuncel on Tuesday.

Buyuktuncel was part of an incoming freshman class at UCLA littered with international stars – including Aday Mara, Jan Vide, and Ilane Fibleuil – that largely disappointed under coach Mick Cronin.

Buyuktuncel is still a very high upside big man, standing at 6’9 and with the athleticism and shooting touch to be an NBA caliber talent in time.

The Turkish forward averaged 4.5 points and 2.5 rebounds in 16.3 minutes across 26 games last year, shooting 43.3% on twos and 29.7% from three.

He’ll become the second former Pac-12 big transferring to Nebraska this offseason, joining Washington center Braxton Meah.

The Huskers are in need of help up front after losing star Rienk Mast for the entire upcoming season with a knee injury.

Buyuktuncel should step right into a big role for Nebraska and could put his name into the 2025 NBA draft conversation if he blossoms the way many projected he would last year at UCLA.

Buyuktuncel and Meah are two of six new transfers joining coach Fred Hoiberg’s club, alongside Rollie Worster (Utah), Connor Essegian (Wisconsin), Gavin Griffiths (Rutgers), and Andrew Morgan (North Dakota State).

College Sports Wire lists 5 landing spots for UCLA transfer Berke Buyuktuncel

Berke Buyuktuncel has some options.

The UCLA Bruins men’s basketball team has added a ton of talent. However, they have also lost some players in the transfer portal, with the latest being Berke Buyuktuncel.

Buyuktuncel entering the portal wasn’t entirely surprising as they needed to open up a scholarship spot. His decision came shortly after Dominick Harris, the former Gonzaga and Loyola Marymount player, transferred to Westwood. 

Andy Patton of College Sports Wire mentioned five landing spots for Buyuktuncel, including a couple of Bog Ten programs. Here are the five teams he listed: Virginia, Nebraska, Washington, Iowa, and Louisville.

Both Louisville (Pat Kelsey) and Washington (Danny Sprinkle) have new coaches this time around and have been active in the portal.

Buyuktuncel didn’t get a ton of opportunity across 26 games, although he did get eight stats. But, his size and other areas have him as a potential sleeper in the portal.

Buyuktuncel’s portal decision will be one to monitor.

Iowa basketball reportedly targeting UCLA transfer F Berke Buyuktuncel

Iowa basketball has its sights set on a UCLA transfer forward.

The Iowa Hawkeyes are still trying to upgrade their roster for the 2024-25 men’s college basketball season.

After adding Morehead State transfer guard Drew Thelwell, Iowa would like to add a forward as well. The Hawkeyes are reportedly one of a handful of teams interested in UCLA transfer forward Berke Buyuktuncel.

CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein shared that Iowa is among a group of schools that includes Nebraska, Virginia, Cincinnati, Washington, Butler, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Kentucky, BYU and Louisville that have contacted Buyuktuncel.

Buyuktuncel just completed his freshman season with the Bruins. The 6-foot-9, 245 pound freshman averaged 4.5 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. Buyuktuncel shot 38.5% from the field, 29.7% from 3-point distance and 62.8% from the free-throw line.

A native of Bursa, Turkey, Buyuktuncel was a regular participant for the Turkish international teams. Buyuktuncel helped Turkey finish in third place at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup in the summer of 2023.

In Turkey’s third-place win over the United States, Buyuktuncel totaled 19 points, four rebounds, five assists and two steals. He was named to the “All-Star Five” at the FIBA U19 World Cup in 2023.

In seven games in that tournament, Buyuktuncel shot 38.3% from the field, 34.8% from beyond the 3-point arc, and 86.7% at the free-throw line.

In the summer of 2022, Buyuktuncel led Turkey to a second-place finish at the FIBA U18 European Championship. Buyuktuncel was also named to the “All-Star Five” at the FIBA U18 European Championship, averaging 12.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.1 steals in seven games.

If Iowa could pair Buyuktuncel with rising sophomore Owen Freeman, the Hawkeyes would have the beginning of something special inside.

Iowa returns junior guard Josh Dix and sophomore guard Brock Harding and sophomore forward Pryce Sandfort. Standout forward Payton Sandfort could return as well, though he entered his name into the 2024 NBA draft and just received an NBA draft combine invite.

Thelwell, Iowa’s lone transfer portal addition thus far, averaged 10 points, 6.2 assists, 3 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. The Orlando native shot 43.5% from the floor and 33.8% from 3-point range.

Iowa also inked power forward Chris Tadjo and small forward Cooper Koch in the 2024 signing class. Koch is a four-star signee, while Tadjo is regarded as a three-star talent per 247Sports.

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Former UCLA forward Berke Buyuktuncel was contacted by Kentucky basketball

UCLA transfer Berke Buyuktuncel has drawn interest from Kentucky basketball.

Kentucky basketball has added a new target to their transfer list in the form of former UCLA forward Berke Buyuktuncel. Kentucky still has some roster spots available, and has contacted him, per Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports.

Originally from Turkey, Buyuktuncel was a four-star player in the 2023 recruiting class. He was ranked 36th overall in the class by 247sports.

In his Freshman season, Buyuktuncel played in 26 games, but started only 8. Like Kentucky’s Zvonimir Ivisic, he missed some games waiting for the NCAA to make him eligible. He averaged 4.5 points and 2.5 rebounds in about 15 minutes per game.

Before joining UCLA, he spent the Summer representing Turkey at the 2023 FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup, where they finished third. He was a team captain.

Wildcats coach Mark Pope could use another frontcourt player to come off the bench and give them minutes. Buyuktuncel would be a nice fit for that spot, and he still has plenty of eligibility left which could allow him to develop into a starter eventually.

Like the remaining names in the transfer portal, Buyuktuncel will likely take his time picking a team. Big Blue Nation will await his decision.

Berke Buyuktuncel enters transfer portal

Berke Buyuktuncel is going portaling.

The UCLA Bruins men’s basketball program has now brought in six transfers during the portal frenzy. But, as a result, Berke Buyuktuncel has decided to enter the transfer portal, per Jaime Shaw of On3.

Buyuktuncel averaged 4.5 PPG with 2.5 rebounds for the Bruins while playing in 26 games as a freshman. He came over from Turkey but was never able to earn much of a role.

With the additions of transfers such as Tyler Bilodeau, William Kyle III, and the latest being Dominick Harris, Buyuktuncel’s role looked even smaller.

After Harris transferred to UCLA< it was a question of who would leave to fill the final scholarship spot, and now we have our answer.

Buyuktuncel should receive plenty of interest in the portal, especially with a lot of eligibility remaining and some untapped potential.

But, this changes the UCLA roster a little bit, although Mick Cronin’s magical portal run has fans feeling great heading into the Big Ten.