Huskers Add Experience, Talent in Recruiting Class

Lincoln – The only source of knowledge is experience.

While the quote was originally credited to legendary Albert Einstein, it is also relative to the recruiting philosophy of Coach Fred Hoiberg and his staff when they put together the Huskers' 2020 recruiting class.

As we take a look at the Huskers' recruiting class, today we check in with experts that have seen them play to get a better feel for how they can contribute to the Husker program.

"There is a saying, you want to get old and stay old," said Brian Snow, a basketball recruiting analyst for 247Sports.com. "The way to get old quickly is to bring in experienced players, guys who have been through the battles. You are not going to win in the Big Ten with a bunch of 19-year old freshmen. Hoiberg and his staff have added age, experience and maturity in this class."

The class features a trio of forwards in Lat Mayen, Trevor Lakes and Eduardo Andre and a quartet of guards in Teddy Allen, Kobe King, Trey McGowens and Kobe Webster. Five of the seven recruits played at least one season of Division I basketball, and the group comes to Nebraska after combining for nearly 4,000 points, 1200 rebounds, 600 assists and 300 steals in their respective NCAA careers. More importantly, the group features players with high-major experience in the Big Ten, ACC and Big 12.

"It wasn't about just taking transfers, but also guys who have had success at the high major level," said Corey Evans, a National Basketball Analyst for Rivals.com. "Teddy Allen did that at the high-major level already and had giant production at the junior college level, and they are adding two well-rounded guards in Trey McGowens and Kobe King. It will pay dividends down the road."

The group provides Hoiberg more options, as he looks to replicate the success he brought to Iowa State in his tenure before going to the NBA.

"I think it is clear when you look at the common threads of this class, it is skilled offensive players, whether is it drivers or shooters," Snow said. "To play the style that Fred Hoiberg and his staff wants to play – more of that NBA pace and space – you need offensively skilled players who can score in a variety of ways."

The lone grad transfer on the Husker roster, Webster has three years of starting experience at the Division I level, as he earned all-conference honors at Western Illinois in 2018 and 2019. Last season, Webster averaged 17.1 points, 3.6 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game, ranking among the Summit League leaders in scoring, assists and assist-to-turnover ratio. He is also a career 37 percent shooter from 3-point range during his time at WIU.

"Webster is a quick, athletic guard who can score," Snow said. "He had a lot of responsibility and pressure at Western Illinois and it has helped him become a more consistent player. That growth was important and will help him as he moves to a higher level.  He's got ability to play either on or off the ball and brings versatility to Nebraska's backcourt."

Mayen provides the Husker frontcourt an intriguing combination of size and shooting ability in a 6-foot-9 package. The Australian product spent last season at Chipola College, where he averaged 11.8 points and 8.4 rebounds per game after battling injuries for two seasons at TCU. Mayen, who jumped to No. 18 in the final JucoRecruiting Top 100, shot 38 percent from 3-point range on his way to first-team all-conference honors.

"Lat is a seasoned player and a competitor that brings experience," said Brendan Foley, who coached Mayen last season at Chipola.  "He will bring a competitive edge and a unique skill set at 6-foot-9, as he can really shoot the ball from the perimeter. He loves to win, has a relentless motor on the court and is extremely active on the boards."

The Huskers' other junior college signee is well known to fans around the state, as Allen enjoyed a prolific career at both Boys Town High School and at Western Nebraska Community College. Last year, Allen led the nation in scoring at 31.4 points per game while also averaging 7.4 rebounds per game. Allen, who averaged 7.0 ppg as a freshman on West Virginia's Sweet 16 team in 2018, posted 17 30-point games last year en route to the highest scoring average by a junior college player since 2014.

"Teddy Allen does things that few basketball players in the world can do," said Brandon Goble of JUCOadvocate.com. "He is a 6-foot-5 guard who has the ability to finish around the basket and plays incredibly hard."

"At Western Nebraska he torched opponents and nets to the tune of over 31 points per game and played in a style that fits his 'Teddy Buckets' nickname," Eric Bossi of Rivals.com wrote recently when featuring the top prospects outside the Rivals150. "He's skilled and physical, and even though he hoists his jumper off of his shoulder, he can get hot from deep."

King brings valuable Big Ten experience to the Huskers, having played in 63 games over the past two-plus years. He played in 19 games for the Badgers, averaging 10.0 points per game and was second on the team with 30 assists before he transferred to Nebraska. King, who was Wisconsin's leading scoring in Big Ten play at 12.6 ppg in nine conference games, had 11 double-figure performances, highlighted by a career-high 24 points against Indiana. He also brings postseason experience, as he helped the Badgers to the 2019 NCAA Tournament as a redshirt freshman. 

"He's a highly skilled combo guard who brings Big Ten experience to Nebraska, and that background and knowledge should help him," Evans said. "He was primarily known as a scorer as a high school prospect, so it's somewhat surprising that his shooting numbers haven't reflected that. In due time, he can be a legitimate 35-37 percent 3-point shooter around the right weapons."

McGowens was a former top-100 recruit who started for two seasons at Pittsburgh before coming to Lincoln. The 6-foot-4 guard averaged 11.5 points, 3.6 assists, 3.3 steals and 1.9 steals per game last season, ranking fourth in the ACC in steals and 10th in assists. McGowens had 20 double-figure efforts last season, including 24-point efforts against Louisville and at North Carolina in conference play. He made an impact as a freshman, averaging 11.6 points per game, highlighted by a 33-point effort against Louisville, and was third in the ACC in steals with 1.9 per contest.

"Entering last season, I thought he was a potential NBA Draft prospect, and I think he still can be," Evans said. "He's a versatile athlete and started 32 of 33 games last year. He has to become a better jump shooter, but I think a lot of it was shot selection compared to the efficiency of his shots. Talent wise, I think he's the most talented prospect on Nebraska's roster next season."

Lakes, a 6-foot-7 forward, is probably the least-known member of the class but brings a premium skill to the Husker program. He starred at the University of Indianapolis, where he averaged 15.7 points and 6.2 rebounds per game last season. Lakes is a volume shooter who has 235 3-pointers in three seasons and is a career 41 percent shooter from 3-point range. He will sit out this year and will be eligible for the 2021-22 campaign.

"Trevor is someone who I first saw in high school and played at the University of Indianapolis," Snow said. "Some of the Division II programs in Indiana are comparable to other mid-major programs, and Trevor made an impact at Indy. His ability to shoot the ball is a weapon, and he has a proven track record. His ability to stretch the floor and be an elite shot maker will be effective in Hoiberg's system, as he will be able to get effective looks as well as open the floor for others."

The final member of the class is also the tallest, as Eduardo Andre signed with the Huskers in mid-May. The 6-foot-10 forward played at AZ Compass Prep last season, averaging 10.3 points, 9.8 rebounds and 3.9 blocks per game playing against some of the top programs in the country. Andre is a late bloomer to basketball, as the London, England, native didn't begin playing competitively until he was 14 years old and is only beginning to scratch the surface with his length and skill.

"Andre is oozing with upside and potential," wrote Evan Daniels of 247Sports. "Andre is mobile, runs the floor with ease, is equipped with good athleticism and has potential as a rim protector and rebounder."