Nebraska Cornhuskers signee dominates in international play

Even before Berke Buyuktuncel has played any minutes for the Nebraska Cornhuskers basketball team, he’s showing what Fred Hoiberg and company can expect. And it looks like they can expect a very talented big man who can hold his own quite well in international competition.

The Turkish transfer’s team didn’t do as well as he did in the FIBA U20 EuroBasket as they were chased out before the finals. Though it’s clear those losses weren’t his fault. The forward looked like every part of the player that could be an impact for the Huskers.

Buyuktuncel scored 15 points, 14 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 blocks in Turkey’s loss to Iceland on Sunday. The loss bounced the Nebraska Cornhuskers' transfer team from the tourney.

Nebraska Cornhuskers basketball player shows off his skills during international play

Those numbers were among the best he posted during the FIBA U20 tournament. However, he had some really good all-around performances. Berke averaged 12 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 1.4 apg and shot 54% from beyond the three-point arc. (13/24).

It’s his accuracy from deep that should really have Nebraska basketball fans salivating.

Buyuktuncel has already participated in five national youth team tournaments in recent years and debuted on the senior national team last year, averaging 13.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2 assists per game.

Last year, as a freshman at UCLA he averaged 4.9 points and 2.7 rebounds. Part of the reason he left the Bruins is because he’s looking for more playing time. It’s thought the Nebraska Cornhuskers will be able to offer that expanded playing time on a team that knows how to use transfers.

He’ll team up with Wisconsin guard Connor Essegian on a team that is looking to rebound from a first-round tournament exit.