Nebraska guard to play for Armenia this weekend

Connor Essegian will play for Armenia in the Los Angeles International Basketball Cup. 

A Nebraska guard will play international basketball this weekend. Connor Essegian will play for Armenia in the Los Angeles International Basketball Cup.

Armenia will play Guatemala on Friday and Ireland on Sunday afternoon. This is the second straight summer that Essegian will play for Armenia.

In 2023, he averaged 11.5 points in two games against France. Essegian joins the Huskers after spending the last two seasons at Wisconsin. The Indiana native was selected to the Big Ten All-Freshman team two seasons ago.

The guard struggled as a sophomore in 2023-24, averaging only 7.3 minutes and 3.2 points per game. As a freshman, he averaged 27.4 minutes and 11.7 points per game on 40% shooting and 36% from the three-point line.

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Steph Curry praises Keisei Tominaga after signing him to Under Armour brand

Keisei Tominaga has signed a multi-year partnership with Steph Curry’s ‘Curry Brand’ as the brand’s first international athlete. 

A former Nebraska guard has signed a deal with a growing shoe brand. Keisei Tominaga has signed a multi-year partnership with Steph Curry’s ‘Curry Brand‘ as the brand’s first international athlete.

Curry expressed his excitement at signing the Olympian to the ‘Curry Brand.’

“We are excited to have Keisei join the Curry Brand family as we continue to extend our mission internationally. He has a dedication to the game and continues to be an inspiration for athletes across the globe. I love that we are growing this amazing roster of Curry Brand athletes, and Keisei, along with other athletes, are continuing to create an impact and change the game of basketball.”

Curry and Tominaga first met more than five years ago when Tominaga was invited to the 2018 Under Armour Basketball Tour in Tokyo as a high school student.

The guard is currently focused on making Japan’s 2024 Summer Olympic roster for the upcoming Paris Games and plans to earn an NBA offer after the Games.

Tominaga has Olympic experience. He previously represented his country at the 2020 Summer Olympics in 3×3 basketball and led the team in scoring with 6.9 points per game.

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Nebraska basketball offers Kansas’ top prep player

Miikka Muurinen is a 6-foot-10, 200-pound power forward from Sunrise Christian in Wichita, Kansas.

Nebraska men’s basketball has offered a scholarship to one of Kansas’ top prep players. Miikka Muurinen is a 6-foot-10, 200-pound power forward from Sunrise Christian in Wichita, Kansas.

Muurinen is currently ranked by service On3 as the No. 10 prospect in the entire class of 2026. The stretch-four from Finland has also drawn interest from other major programs such as Duke.

He also holds offers from Alabama, UCLA, Cincinnati, Illinois, Texas Tech, and Utah. The forward has international experience, having played for the Finnish National Team in the FIBA U16 European Championships.

He led his team with 16.9 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.

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Nebraska’s Tominaga signs deal with Steph Curry’s brand

Nebraska guard Keisei Tominaga has long been a fan of Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry.

Nebraska guard Keisei Tominaga has long been a fan of Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry. Now, he’s in business with his idol.

Tominaga has signed a multi-year deal to become Curry Brand’s first international athlete. The guard is currently focused on making Japan’s 2024 Summer Olympic roster for the upcoming Paris Games and plans to earn an NBA offer after the Games.

Tominaga has Olympic experience. He previously represented his country at the 2020 Summer Olympics in 3×3 basketball and led the team in scoring with 6.9 points per game.

In a press release issued on Friday morning, Tominaga says this opportunity is a dream come true.

“It is an incredible honor to join Curry Brand and be among its elite roster of athletes. Steph has always been one of my basketball heroes, and I have worked hard to emulate his game in my own basketball career. So, to be able to represent his brand and everything he stands for is a dream come true.”

Tominaga will wear Curry Brand footwear and apparel on the court and as a brand ambassador off the court. Basketball for the 2024 Summer Olympics will occur from July 27 to August 11, 2024.

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North Dakota Basketball Player of the Year to Visit Nebraska

Tommy Ahneman is a four-star prospect from Sheyenne High School in West Fargo, North Dakota.

The Gatorade Boys Basketball Player of the Year is planning a visit to the Nebraska campus. Tommy Ahneman is a four-star prospect from Sheyenne High School in West Fargo, North Dakota.

The 6-foot-10, 235-pound center averaged 20.3 points, 13.3 rebounds, 2.2 blocks, and 1.9 assists per game, leading Sheyenne High to the Class AA state championship. Ahneman was also the NDHSAA Class AA State Tournament MVP, recording 28 points, 17 rebounds, and two blocks in the championship game.

When the center was named player of the year, West Fargo High assistant coach Nate Altoff highly praised him.

“Tommy was a fierce opponent on the court this season—an elite scorer on offense and intimidating on defense. “He made an immediate impact every time he entered a game, often drawing double teams on offense and then guarding the other team’s best post player. He was a big part of his team’s state championship run and he’s a great example of where hard work, dedication and a great attitude will get you.”

Ahneman has confirmed that he is planning to make an official visit to Nebraska on Monday. The Huskers initially offered the big man on June 4th.

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Hoiberg confirms Ahron Ulis will be eligible for 2024-25 basketball season

A Nebraska guard will be eligible for the 2024-25 after sitting out all last season. Head coach Fred Hoiberg has confirmed that point guard Ahron Ulis will play this upcoming basketball season after sitting out last season due to the Iowa sports …

A Nebraska guard will be eligible for the 2024-25 after sitting out all last season. Head coach Fred Hoiberg has confirmed that point guard Ahron Ulis will play this upcoming basketball season after sitting out last season due to the Iowa sports betting scandal.

Hoiberg announced on Wednesday night that he will be ‘good to go’ for the first game of the season. At the time of the transfer, Hoiberg said he was excited to see what Uhlis could contribute to the Cornhuskers.

“Ahron is a player we’ve gotten to know well having faced him five times over the last three seasons. Ahron brings a lot of valuable Big Ten experience to our program. He possesses a very competitive defensive mindset, while offensively he is a talented ball handler and playmaker who is good in transition.”

In his three seasons at Iowa, Ulis appeared in 84 games, starting in 27. He averaged 4.0 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 1.9 assists a game as a Hawkeye.

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Husker basketball adds two graduate assistants

Head coach Fred Hoiberg announced on Wednesday that Josiah Allick and Triston Simpson will be joining his staff for the 2024-25 basketball season. 

The Nebraska Cornhusker men’s basketball team has added two graduate assistants for the upcoming season. Head coach Fred Hoiberg announced on Wednesday that Josiah Allick and Triston Simpson will join his staff for the 2024-25 basketball season.

Allick played in 33 games last season, his only season at Nebraska. He averaged 7.3 points and 5.4 rebounds while leading the team in field goal percentage and having a pair of double-doubles.

“We are excited to keep Josiah around our program,” Hoiberg said. “Everyone saw the contributions he made as a player here with his work ethic, selflessness, and leadership abilities. He is an outstanding communicator who relates exceptionally well with people, and his experiences will help our current players as we continue to build a winning culture.”

Simpson returns to Lincoln after spending last season as an assistant at Indian Hills Community College. He spent three years as the starting point guard at South Dakota, where he appeared in 124 games for the Coyotes.

“We are pleased that Triston has joined our staff,” Hoiberg said. “He had a chance to get into coaching at the junior college level and helped Indiana Hills to the national tournament last year. Triston was a multi-year starter at point guard at South Dakota and played professionally for a few years before getting into coaching, and that experience will help him as he continues his adjustment to the coaching ranks.”

The two are both natives of Lincoln, Nebraska, and played for the Lincoln North Stars during their prep careers.

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Nebraska’s Shelley heads to Australia to begin professional career

Jaz Shelley will play for the Ballarat Miners Women of the Mitsubishi NBL1 South league.

A former Nebraska women’s basketball player has left Lincoln to begin her professional career. Jaz Shelley will play for the Ballarat Miners Women of the Mitsubishi NBL1 South league.

Shelley spent three seasons at Nebraska after starting her career with the Oregon Ducks. In 35 games, she averaged 13.4 points, 5.7 assists, and 4.3 rebounds per game for the 2023-24 season.

The Phoenix Mercury took the Moe, Australia native in the third round of the 2024 WNBA draft. She was cut after the preseason’s competition.

Shelley says she’s excited to play basketball back home in Australia.

“I’m so excited to be back playing basketball in Australia again and even more thrilled to be able to come and play for the Ballarat Miners. I couldn’t think of a better coaching staff and group of girls to start this new journey with!”

Through 13 games this season, the Miners have a record of 5-8 and are ranked 13th out of 19 teams in the South division. There is no word on when Shelley will make her debut.

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Nebraska basketball offers 2025 Wyoming guard Abdul Bashir

The Huskers are making offers for the 2025-2026 basketball season. Abdul Bashir, a guard from Casper (Wyo.) College earned an offer from Nebraska. Bashir is a Nebraska native. He hails from Omaha and plays for Omaha Central. He made an unofficial …

The Huskers are making offers for the 2025-2026 basketball season. Abdul Bashir, a guard from Casper (Wyo.) College earned an offer from Nebraska.

Bashir is a Nebraska native. He hails from Omaha and plays for Omaha Central. He made an unofficial visit to Lincoln on Thursday. The 6-foot, 7-inch freshman completed his first season at Casper College.

The guard played in 33 games and earned 32 starts. He averaged 19.4 points per game, 4.2 rebounds per game, and 3.2 assists per game. He also shot 46.3% from the field, 45.3% from three-point range, and 78.5% from the free-throw line.

Bashir’s highest-scoring game of the season occurred three times over the span of three weeks, dropping 33 points in each. His last big game occurred in the team’s Region IX North Sub-Region Play-In Game, leading his team with 33 points.

Bashir and the Thunderbirds reached the Region IX Tourney in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, but fell to Western Nebraska Community College. He led the team in the loss, scoring 18 points, going 7-of-15 from the field and 4-of-9 from beyond the arc.

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Tominaga to skip NBA Summer League for 2024 Summer Olympics

Keisei Tominaga has been named to Japan’s Pre-Olympic Training Camp roster.

A Nebraska guard has decided to skip the NBA Summer League for a chase to play in the 2024 Summer Olympics. Keisei Tominaga has been named to Japan’s Pre-Olympic Training Camp roster.

Robin Washut of Husker Online has reported that Tominaga will not participate in the NBA Summer League. He will instead focus on making Japan’s 2024 Summer Olympic roster for the upcoming Paris Games and plans to earn an NBA offer after the Games.

Tominaga has Olympic experience. He previously represented his country at the 2020 Summer Olympics in 3×3 basketball and led the team in scoring with 6.9 points per game.

Basketball for the 2024 Summer Olympics will take place from July 27 to August 11, 2024.

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