Pryce Sandfort gives Nebraska rare commodity in college basketball

Nebraska basketball finally got the good news it was waiting for from Pryce Sandfort as the First-Team All-Big Ten performer announced his return to the Huskers for his senior season.

It wasn’t a forgone conclusion.

Sandfort put together arguably the best individual season in Nebraska basketball history, averaging 18.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, and two assists per game. Sandfort set the program record with 3-pointers (129) and led the Big Ten conference, while shooting 41.6 percent.

When Nebraska landed Sandfort from the transfer portal, he was ranked 136th overall by 247 Sports. The 6-foot-7 standout was rated as the 16th-best combo guard.

Now, after proving he’s one of the best pure scorers in the Big Ten, Sandfort would have been a top-10 player had he entered the portal. My bet is that he would have been a second-round selection if he had entered the NBA draft.

Nebraska basketball is lucky to have an NBA player on its roster

Sandfort is a three-level scorer. He doesn’t do as much in the mid-range, but he’s exceptional at shooting the ball off screens and cutting to the basket. The former Iowa Hawkeye has shot 60.4 percent for his career on 2-point attempts. He also earned 83 free throws in 2025-26, compared to just 44 as a sophomore.

Sandfort is a better defender than people realize. He might not be big enough to play as a four in the NBA, but with the way he shoots the ball, Pryce can easily work his way into an NBA rotation.

That’s what makes him such a valuable commodity for Nebraska — he’s an NBA player who will be playing in college next season.

Nebraska has one, maybe two, in Braden Frager, another guy with a bright future if he continues to progress.

Sandfort raises the ceiling of Nebraska basketball immensely. Only six players earned First-Team All-Big Ten honors from the coaches or media.

Sandfort is the only player who has declared that he’s coming back. Jeremy Fears, the Michigan State point guard, is expected back after testing the NBA draft waters, but still, the Huskers will be one of two Big Ten teams to return a first-team player.

That’s not a bad starting point. Fred Hoiberg has work to do in the portal. Nebraska needs another big, hopefully Drew Fielder, and a couple of guards. But the core pieces, the ones that are most difficult to find, are already in place.

And with Sandfort, Nebraska has one of the rarest commodities in college basketball — a player who should have gone pro but decided to come back.

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