Nebraska basketball address another need in the transfer portal

After a season playing for Rhode Island, former Husker Jamarques Lawrence will return to Nebraska basketball, announcing his transfer portal commitment Tuesday morning.

This wasn’t a huge surprise. As soon as Lawrence entered the transfer portal last week, Nebraska basketball had immediate interest. Lawrence left after the 2023-24 season, but was one of the guys you wish hadn’t.

He was solid last season for Rhode Island, starting every game, scoring 9.9 points per game, dishing out 2.5 assists, and knocking down 39 percent of his 3-point attempts. The 6-foot-3 guard made 35 starts in two seasons for Nebraska basketball but left to seek a bigger role and found one.

Lawrence has always been a reliable 3-point shooter, making 64 in two seasons with Nebraska (36 percent). Yet, he knocked down 59 triples for Rhode Island in 2024-25 and shot 39 percent in the process. Some Nebraska basketball fans didn’t seem that excited about the return of Lawrence.

However, the transfer portal addition fills a key need for Nebraska basketball in more ways than one.

Jamarques Lawrence adds playmaking, 3-point shooting, and a point guard

Nebraska needed a point guard. Lawrence is capable of being a two-guard also — he’s a combo guard — but point guard is his best position. He’s a solid defender, an above-average playmaker, and a quality 3-point shooter. He also shot 47 percent on 2-point attempts last season but doesn’t get to the free-throw line often (1.8 attempts per game).

Lawrence is an ideal fit for a few reasons: One he’s played in the Big Ten. He knows Fred Hoiberg’s system, and there won’t be any transition. This is a plug-and-play addition.

Lawrence can also play multiple spots. He could play alongside Sam Hoiberg or Connor Essegian. Yet, if the Huskers find another high-volume scorer, Lawrence would play with him too, sort of like with Keisei Tominaga.

Some fans will scoff at the scoring average, but Lawrence is efficient. He’s always shot the ball efficiently, is a plus defender, and adds some much-needed playmaking to a roster that desperately needed more, and still does.

Adding Lawrence is a good start, though. You can see the rotation coming together, and so far, the Huskers look like they are building a team that can get back to the NCAA tournament.

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