After a year spent watching, learning and developing his body, Braden Frager is ready to make his debut for Nebraska men’s basketball in 2025-26.
The redshirt freshman said as much before official preseason practice began this week for the the Huskers.
“I’m ready to get out there and just play,” Frager said. “It’s been over a year since I played my last competitive basketball game, so I’m just ready to get out there and play.”
Frager attended Lincoln Southwest High School, playing for three years before graduating early to join the Huskers in 2024. During his final season with the Silver Hawks, he helped lead the team to the district finals and an overall record of 15-8. He concluded the season averaging 18.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.2 steals per game.
He was a consensus three-star recruit and a top-200 player in the 2025 class before reclassifying to 2024. He chose to enroll early knowing he’d likely redshirt so he could take advantage of Nebraska’s strength and conditioning program and learn from the older players.
“I got to travel to every game,” Frager said. “I got to see it first-hand right there. I think the opportunity to follow everybody, see what they go through, and probably just putting on weight, getting in the gym every day, just doing everything I can to get better.”
Frager mentioned a few things he learned while watching.
“I’ve seen the ups and downs of what they can go through, and kind of just what we can do better than last year, what things we should stay the same as we did last year,” Frager said. “So kind of just learning from last year’s mistakes.”
Coach Fred Hoiberg said he likes where Frager is at heading into fall camp.
“I’ve been really happy with Braden, and for him, the biggest thing is consistency. He’s going to go through some ups and downs, highs and lows. He’s 18 years old; I think sometimes you forget that. He came in as a 17-year-old freshman.”
Hoiberg said the staff considered burning his redshirt last season during the team’s losing streak, but the Huskers pulled themselves out of it and they stuck with the initial plan. Hoiberg highlighted his athleticism, mentioning a pair of highflying dunks he threw down in a recent workout.
“He brings a level of athleticism that our group needs, especially losing Brice (Williams) and losing Juwan (Gary),” Hoiberg said. “But again, the biggest thing is consistency. You can go through so much on the scout team, and the confidence that you play with in the role that you have, and you tell them to shoot it every time. Now it’s about shot selection. Are you taking the right shots? Are you moving on to the next play when it’s not there? … I’ve been really, really, happy and really impressed with Braden and his mentality, what he’s brought to this team.”
Senior guard, Connor Essegian said he’s seen a lot of development from Frager.
“He’s grown in so many different ways,” Essegian said. “Just the mental side of things, being able to humble yourself and sit back and learn and grow, it takes a lot to do that. He’s insane too; he’s a really good athlete. He can shoot the ball, he can dribble it, he can facilitate. I’m excited to see him get on the rim a couple times. So I’m excited for what he can do this year.”
The 6-foot-7, 220-pound wing said he’s excited for his opportunity on the court with his hometown team.
“It means everything,” Frager said. “I just can’t wait to go out there and play for Nebraska. I’ve grown up a Nebraska fan, came to every home game for Nebraska. So it’s just a dream come true to finally go out there and play for this team.”
For now, Frager is focused on one thing.
“I just want to get out there and hustle,” Frager said. “I just want to make the hustle plays, because obviously I’m a young guy, and so I’ve got to do what I can to get out on the court.”
