Braden Frager is ready to run it back for the Nebraska basketball team. The redshirt freshman made a rather low-key announcement on Thursday afternoon that he isn’t planning on hitting the Transfer Portal.
According to John Gage of the Plains-Sentinel, Frager made the announcement while the Huskers were visiting the state capitol building. The team was honored by the Nebraska legislature on Thursday, and the governing body reportedly stood at ease for a full five minutes while they applauded and welcomed Frager and the rest of his teammates. The warm welcome was to acknowledge the best season the basketball program has ever had, ending in the Sweet 16 in a heartbreaking loss to Big Ten rival Iowa.
The good news that Frager is coming back was followed up by a promising hint by the Big Ten’s best sixth man. “I’m coming back,” Frager told Gage when asked if he planned on returning for his sophomore year. When pressed if fellow star player Pryce Sandfort was likely to return as well, Frager nodded his head and said, “Probably.”
Nebraska basketball gets a big offseason win with Braden Frager coming back
Obviously, Frager’s comment is far more solid, but it’s still a very nice tidbit considering there were some who were worried he had his heart set on hitting the Transfer Portal earlier this spring. At one point, the worries over his departure were so strong that several Husker fans started attacking him on social media. Luckily, cooler heads and common sense (and bags of cash, one would assume) won out.
The news also came at a good time, considering Frager announced he’s coming back one day after teammate Berke Buyuktuncel surprised Husker fans by bidding adieu and looking for greener grass.
Sandfort’s situation is different from either Buyuktuncel’s or Fragers's and will most likely be quite a bit more drawn out. It’s unlikely the star forward would enter the Transfer Portal, but he’s thought to be at least considering making the jump to the NBA. His recovery from a sports hernia this offseason might mean he’ll make the decision right down to the wire. The draft isn’t until June, and it stands to reason that there will be concerns about Sandfort leaving until then.
Today, Nebraska basketball fans can celebrate one of its best players coming back for sure, and the hopes that Braden Frager is correct in guessing Pryce Sandfort is returning as well.