Sam Hoiberg is the ultimate underdog story, and after leading Nebraska men’s basketball to new heights, he’s ready for his next challenge.
Sam joined the Nebraska basketball team as a walk-on in 2021 to play for his father, Fred Hoiberg. The guard spent five years, including a redshirt season, as a Husker and played with a chip on his shoulder the entire time.
“I knew what it looked like, I knew people wouldn’t think I was a very good player,” Hoiberg told Hail Varsity. “They just thought I made the team because my dad was the coach. That was one of the biggest motivating factors for me, was to prove to people that I wasn’t just on the team because of my dad. I was a good enough player to earn a spot on the team, and that motivated me every day in my workouts, every game wanting to prove to people that I deserve to be on the floor.
“If they were watching for the first time, they would have thought that my dad was giving me pity minutes, so it certainly gave me a chip on my shoulder, and I wanted to prove people wrong my whole career.”
Nebraska Cornhusker head coach Fred Hoiberg talks to Sam Hoiberg coming off the court against Penn State. Photo by John S. Peterson.
Proving he belonged wasn’t the only challenge Hoiberg faced. He also had the added pressure of representing his father’s name.
“People don’t necessarily think about it this way; when I tell them, they agree normally, but you’re playing for your dad’s job and his legacy,” Hoiberg said. “That means so much to me, because you care so much when your dad’s the coach, whether you’re playing for him or just out in the stands. Every game means so much because you want him to not only keep his job, but you want the fans to like him. You want his legacy to be a good one, and when you’re playing for him, that’s in the back of your mind a little bit.
“It would definitely make me a little bit more nervous at times, but just the way it all played out, it couldn’t have been more of a storybook ending.”
That ending included Nebraska’s first NCAA Tournament win and an appearance in the Sweet 16, with Hoiberg as the team’s starting point guard.
Now, Hoiberg is looking to play professionally. He’s had workouts with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Indiana Pacers, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns. The guard is also looking at the opportunity of playing overseas in Australia.
“It would mean the world, it’s what you dream of growing up, just playing basketball professionally,” Hoiberg said. “Obviously, the NBA is the thing you dream of going to. That dream, it didn’t die necessarily, but it felt very bleak a few years ago when I was playing well, but not doing a whole lot production wise …
“So, it’s definitely been a dream being able to work out in front of NBA teams.”
The NBA pre-draft process begins with agents reaching out to teams and setting up meetings and workouts. Sam said Fred can also help start conversations through his connections.
“I try not to be too nervous about it, and not put too much pressure on myself,” Hoiberg said. “It’s been really cool to be able to put on their colors and just get more chances to play basketball.”
Hoiberg’s also been in talks with a few Australian basketball teams. His mother, Carol Hoiberg, was born in Australia, which gives him the chance to apply for citizenship.
Hoiberg said he never believed he’d be in the position to play professionally.
“Everything I kind of dreamed of, just being that walk-on success story, kind of happened,” Hoiberg said. “It played out in such a cool way with being able to get the first NCAA Tournament win with my dad as the coach, with Charlie (Hoiberg) on staff, and just having opportunities to potentially make an NBA team, whether that being a G League roster or a main roster. It’s something that didn’t seem very plausible at that time, and I worked for it and tried to go out and earn it. (Little Sam would) be so proud of himself for making it this far.”
He was a key piece of the best Nebraska basketball season in program history. The Huskers won their first 20 games and finished 28-7, making it to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament.
“We were just so connected, and you could tell early on that we were going to have a great chemistry,” Hoiberg said. “That was one of the things I learned early in my career, is chemistry off the court will show when you’re playing on the court. You could tell that this group really got along well, and that we jelled.”
Nebraska Cornhusker guard Sam Hoiberg (1) gives his father Fred Hoiberg a hug with his twin brother Charlie nearby after the win over Troy in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Photo by John S. Peterson.
For Sam, the season was even more special because he got to experience it with his father and twin brother, Charlie. Charlie joined Nebraska’s staff as a graduate manager in 2025 after completing his undergrad at TCU.
“It’s hard to describe just how amazing the feeling was, especially with my twin brother being on the staff too,” Sam said. “That’s the person I’ve spent almost every day of my life with until we got to college. Getting him to be a part of it with my dad and with all my family being there was just the greatest feeling I’ve ever really had in sports.”
Charlie played a big part in Sam having the best season of his career as senior.
“He was really important for my mental game,” Sam said. “He was able to get in my head and help me get confidence, which is something that I struggled with at times throughout my career, especially with shooting the ball and offensively. He knew that I was a great offensive player, and that’s what he would tell me every single day.
“He would be in front my workouts. That gave me a lot of confidence and, I think, allowed me to be a better offensive player this year, which was pretty obvious with my numbers.”
Hoiberg averaged 9.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.0 steals while shooting 54.1% from the field, 38.1% from 3 and 75% from the free-throw line during his breakout season. He set a program record with a 3.75 assist-to-turnover ratio, which broke Brian Carr’s 3.05 set in 1985-86.
Hoiberg finished No. 6 in steals (70) and seventh in assists (157) to land in the top 10 of Nebraska’s single season record books. He was also named to the All-Big Ten Defensive Team and was an All-Big Ten honorable mention.
“That’s something that I was dreaming of when I was a walk-on, and I remember I didn’t want to tell people those dreams that I had, because I thought they would laugh at me for having them just because it was such a far shot at the time,” Hoiberg said. “It was always in the back of my mind, something that I wanted to do. I had goals of making the defensive team before the season started. I thought I was a good enough defender for that, but making the All-Big Ten honorable mention team and to get votes for making All-Big-Ten honors in general, that was never really a thought that crossed my mind …
“It means a lot, and I’m definitely grateful to have gotten those votes and respect from the coaches and media.”
Hoiberg graduated from Lincoln Pius X and joined his dad’s program as a walk-on in 2021, redshirting his first season. He got his first chance as a freshman after starting guard Emmanuel Bandoumel suffered a season-ending injury. He provided a spark off the bench, contributing 4.1 points and 1.8 rebounds in 12.7 minutes per game across 21 contests.
He held onto that rotation spot as a sophomore, playing in all 34 games off the bench and chipping in 3.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game.
Nebraska Cornhusker guard Sam Hoiberg (1) makes a lay up against the Purdue Boilermakers during a college basketball game on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, in Lincoln, Nebraska. Photo by John S. Peterson.
Hoiberg began to see more court time as a junior, appearing in all 35 games with 15 starts. He averaged 3.9 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists. The coach’s son led the Huskers in steals with 1.4 per game, which ranked 11th in the conference. He also helped Nebraska win the inaugural College Basketball Crown tournament to close out the 2024-25 season. He parlayed that success into becoming one of the team’s most important players as a senior.
Now, Hoiberg will wait to see where he goes next. He said he doesn’t expect to get drafted but is ready for whatever opportunities come his way.
“My goal is to play up to my highest potential,” Hoiberg said. “I definitely have aspirations of playing in the NBA, and I’m not going to cap those dreams by just trying to go play overseas and stuff like that. So, whether it takes me a few years to get there, or if I don’t at all get there, I’m going to try to play to my best potential wherever I am and give it my best shot to make it to the highest level.”
Although Hoiberg’s time at Nebraska has come to an end, he’s left his mark on the Big Red.
“I just hope people remember me as someone that gave my all every single time I went out onto the court,” Hoiberg said. “I feel pretty good about leaving that legacy, and I think people do realize that I really did leave everything I had on the court. I just hope when people think of me, they think of someone that gave it all for the team and was trying to win for the team and the fan base every single night.”
The NBA Draft will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday. It will air on ABC and ESPN.
