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Nebraska forward Berke Buyuktuncel to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal

Robin Washut profile picby: Robin Washut04/08/26RobinWashut

Nebraska saw its first surprising departure on the second day of the 2026 spring transfer portal window.

Forward Berke Buyuktuncel, who started 61 of his 66 appearances as a Husker over the past two seasons, officially entered his name into the portal on Wednesday.

The 6-foot-10, 244-pound junior from Turkey averaged 6.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per game while leading NU with 34 blocked shots. He posted six double-figure scoring efforts and three games with 10 or more rebounds this season.

That included the program’s fourth triple-double ever vs. North Dakota (12 points, 11 rebounds, and a career-high 10 assists).

Beyond his production on the court, the former UCLA transfer emerged as one of the faces of the team and a fan favorite in his second Husker campaign.

With Buyuktuncel’s departure, head coach Fred Hoiberg and his staff now have six open roster spots to fill for the 2026-27 season.

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Nebraska’s 2026-27 roster distribution chart

FRESHMENREDSHIRT FRESHMENSOPHOMORESJUNIORSSENIORS
Colin RiceBraden FragerPryce Sandfort
Jacob LanierLeo CurtisConnor Essegian+
Will CooperUgnius Jarusevicius+
Cale Jacobsen
Henry Burt#
Nebraska’s roster numbers by class
2/150/153/150/154/15
+ = Applying for a medical hardship waiver, # = Grandfathered player who will not count against Nebraska’s 15-man roster limit in 2026-27

Future roster matrix

2026-272027-282028-292029-30
Pryce Sandfort – SRBraden Frager – JRBraden Frager – SRColin Rice – SR
Connor Essegian – SR (+)Leo Curtis – JRLeo Curtis – SRJacob Lanier – SR
Ugnius Jarusevicius – SR (+)Will Cooper – JRWill Cooper – SR
Cale Jacobsen – SRColin Rice – SOColin Rice – JR
Henry Burt – SR (#)Jacob Lanier – SOJacob Lanier – JR
Braden Frager – SO
Leo Curtis – SO
Will Cooper – SO
Colin Rice – FR
Jacob Lanier – FR
9/155/155/152/15
+ = Applying for a medical hardship waiver, # = Grandfathered player who will not count against Nebraska’s 15-man roster limit in 2026-27

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