The Nebraska basketball team might have lost in the final moments of their game against the Michigan Wolverines this week, but they also impressed quite a few people and showed their 20-1 record isn't a fluke. Among those who appears to have been impressed the most was Blue Chip small forward Mathias Alessanco.
Originally from Brazil, the 6-foot-8 4-star prospect in the 2026 class is taking an official visit to Lincoln to finish up in January. In the process, he's sparking a different kind of battle between NU and the Wolverines as Dusty May's team hosted him for a visit earlier this summer.
Allesanco, also known as Mathias Vazquez, is officially unrated by Rivals. Still, the site does have him considered one of the best players in the 2026 class with that 4-star grade. In addition to Nebraska and Michigan, the Texas Longhorns are attempting to land the talented forward.
4⭐️ Mathias Alessanco will take an official visit to Nebraska this weekend, sources tell @Rivals.
— Joe Tipton (@JoeTipton) January 29, 2026
The 6-8 small forward from Brazil is one of the top international prospects in the 2026 class. https://t.co/YcGEfH9l5N pic.twitter.com/kRt5PgTS04
Nebraska vs Michigan rivalry shifts to recruiting with Mathias Alessanco in Lincoln
Mathias Vazquez joins RWE for his first season at OTE, where he instantly slots in as one of the top international prospects not only in the league but in all of high school basketball," his OTE bio states. "Vazquez comes to OTE as a highly touted international prospect who is best known for using his size effectively around the basket and for his impressive footwork."
"Prior to coming to OTE, he most recently played for Real Betis Baloncesto Sevilla 2nd Team in Spain. While in Spain, he started at small forward and led the team in scoring with 17.7 PPG and rebounding at 8.5 RPG. At 16 years old, Vazquez played for Brazil at the U18 FIBA AmeriCup, where he was the team’s second leading scorer at 12.0 PPG while also finishing second in rebounds (5.2 RPG) and assists (2.8 APG). He was elevated to the Brazilian Senior National Team at just 16 years old, where he played at the FIBA AmeriCup Qualifiers."
Nebraska has seen a recent surge on the recruiting front as it keeps racking up victories. If Fred Hoiberg and Co. can make a run for a No. 1 or No.2 seed in the NCAA Tournament and then win a few games, their profile is only going to be more attractive to players like Mathias Alessanco.