Eighteen boys basketball teams from Nebraska traveled to Columbia, Mo., June 12-14 for the 2026 Midwest Basketball Showcase, a live scholastic recruiting period. Coaches from more than 100 schools at all levels of college basketball — including all three Division I plus Division II, Division III and NAIA schools in Nebraska — gathered to watch teams from Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Kentucky compete.
I saw all 18 teams play at least once, and many of them multiple times. Here’s a look at some of the squads and players that made the most of the opportunity.
Undefeated Teams
While level of competition varied, only four of the 18 Nebraska teams returned without a loss, and all four looked impressive while doing so.
Elkhorn North
The Wolves were down a couple rotation players, but the trio of seniors Kellen Murphy and Carter Peterson and sophomore Braylon Jackson provided more than enough firepower to go 4-0. I’ll have more one those three below, but I watched the Wolves beat Tolton Catholic (Mo.) 64-62 and eStem (Ark.) 74-65, and they also took down Grain Valley (Mo.) and Maumelle (Ark.).
Elkhorn North is making the jump to Class A next season and has a lot of production to replace after finishing as Class B runner-up this past year, but Murphy and Peterson are returning starters who combined to average nearly 30 points per game and look poised to put up even bigger numbers as seniors. Jackson is one of the most talented sophomores in the state and will slide right into the starting lineup in the backcourt next to Murphy.
However, nobody else on the roster averaged even 2.0 points a game last season. Continuing to develop depth will be the key for the Wolves to make noise in their first season in Class A.
Lincoln North Star
Lincoln North Star senior Jordan Castor looks to pass the ball. Photo by Mike Sautter.
The Gators have the look of a team that could head into the 2026-27 season as preseason No. 1 in Class A and backed that up with a 4-0 record in Columbia, including a win over a talented St. Xavier (Ky.) team to open its stay on Saturday. I watched North Star shake off a slow start to beat DeSmet Jesuit (Mo.) 70-62 and close out the weekend with a 62-43 win against Blue Valley Northwest (Kan.), and they also beat Jackson (Mo.).
The Gators return four of their top five scorers from an 18-win team and added an impact transfer in Myles Parker plus a pair of freshmen who look ready to contribute right away in Carmello McAfee and Troy Pinchon. Their constant trapping and up-tempo style are a nightmare to deal with as senior point guard Jordan Castor sets the tone on both ends of the floor.
Castor is a dynamic playmaker who seeks out contact in the lane, converts difficult shots around the rim and finds open teammates when the defense collapses, but he’s not alone. Between the two games I saw, six different Gators scored in double figures including seniors Goay Gatwech, JaKeyce Fowler, J’Shawn Afuh, Castor and Parker plus the freshman McAfee.
Roncalli Catholic
The Crimson Pride outclassed much of its competition in Columbia before beating a quality team in game four. I watched them tip off their stay with a 58-31 win over Park Hill (Mo.), and the Pride also beat Rockwood Summit (Mo.), Edison Preparatory (Okla.) and Lawrence Free State (Kan.).
Roncalli returns its entire starting five from a season ago after just missing out on state with a district final loss to Bennington. Point guard Brady McGill is back as a four-year varsity starter to lead the way, leading a balanced effort with 11 points while shooting 3-of-5 from deep against Park Hill.
Roncalli has a pair of seniors in the frontcourt with 6-foot-4 wing Jace Dasher and 6-foot-3 bruiser Ben Mausbach, each of whom had their moments in Columbia. Junior Henry Drexel is a knockdown perimeter shooter while fellow junior Vinny Schwarz is a dogged defender at 5-foot-11 and a good distributor.
Roncalli has the look of a state championship contender in Class B, but the Crimson Pride will have to develop some depth by the time winter rolls around with very little varsity experience or production on the bench.
Omaha Central
The Eagles picked up an extra game on Saturday and won that one too, finishing 5-0. I watched them beat Clayton (Mo.) 54-40 and Rock Bridge (Mo.) 67-50 on Sunday. They also took down Shawnee Mission East (Kan.) 62-44, Parkway West (Mo.) 68-32 and Thayer (Mo.) 56-52 on Saturday.
Omaha North senior Amillio Coppage-Wheeler scores at the rim. Photo by Mike Sautter.
Central’s personnel fits the Chubick style with a lot of speed and length in the lineup that makes full-court pressure difficult to handle.
The Eagles returned four of their top five scorers with senior Evan Rodgers leading the way. He’s a powerful two-way guard with long arms who can finish with either hand around the basket and is disruptive defensively. He pulled down six boards and dished out three assists in the first game I watched and nabbed four steals and scored 14 points in the second, showing off his versatility.
Forwards Nathan Stavneak (double-digit points in both games I watched) and Nels Peterson (21 points and 11 rebounds against Rock Bridge) are poised for big senior seasons.
The player that stood out most to me on Sunday was Omaha North transfer Amillio Coppage-Wheeler, a 6-foot-4 wing. He scored 26 points on 10-of-14 shooting and dished out five assists in the two games. Coppage-Wheeler is a good passer from the high post who created a few easy looks for Peterson in the second game, contributing significantly to his double-double. He’s an explosive leaper who can catch or throw alley-oops, with Stavneak an easy target as another high jumper with long arms.
Shining Stars
Numerous players showed up in a big way in Columbia, with a handful of them attracting significant interest from the coaches in attendance. Here’s a rundown of the best individual performances I saw.
Drayke Brown, 2027, Millard South
Nobody had a better day on Saturday than Millard South senior Drayke Brown. In wins over Putnam City North (Okla.) and Derby (Kan.), the Gretna East transfer averaged 29.0 points on 59.3% from the field, 57.1% from 3 and 80% from the foul line, 6.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists.
The 6-foot-4 guard started the day with 28 points on 7-of-13 shooting (3-of-6 from 3) and 5-of-7 free-throw shooting against an athletic Putnam City North, setting the tone for the weekend by accounting for his team’s first 15 points. He kept the aggression going in game two, totaling 30 points on 9-of-14 from the field (5-of-8 from 3) and 3-of-3 from the line against a sharpshooting Derby team.
Brown is a terrific shooter with deep range who also uses his strong frame and craftiness to get to the line at a high rate. He’s a smart cutter off the ball and a good passer with it in his hands, making him a complete offensive threat. He already has great chemistry with his new teammates, and his addition could push Millard South into state title contention come the winter.
As prolific as Brown was on Saturday, he wasn’t alone. Fellow seniors Brevin Meyers and Carter Margheim both played well, and the sophomore guard duo of Jacob Alaga and James Fink gave the Patriots a huge spark in the second game, combining for 30 points on 12-of-14 shooting (5-of-5 from 3). As a team, Millard South shot 65.5% from the field and 60% from 3 on Saturday, including a blistering 14-for-21 performance from deep against Derby.
The Patriots split their games on Sunday to finish 3-1. They cut as well as any team I’ve seen this month and have shooters all over the place. Continued defensive growth will be a key, because they’ll be able to score with anybody.
Levi Webb, 2027, Papillion-La Vista South
Papillion-La Vista South senior Levi Webb finishes at the rim. Photo by Mike Sautter.
Levi Webb was one of the breakout stars in the Metro as a junior, and he’ll need to explode even more for a Papillion-La Vista South team as every other returning player has combined for 23 career varsity points.
Webb did just that for the Titans in a 62-48 win over eStem (Ark.) on Friday night. He went off for 28 points (including 11 in the first quarter and 10 in the fourth) on 9-of-18 from the field (3-of-6 from 3) and 3-of-3 from the free-throw stripe. He also grabbed eight rebounds, dished out four assists, nabbed four steals and even blocked a shot.
The 6-foot-3 combo guard showed comfort creating for himself and his teammates out of ball screen actions and in transition. He’s a crafty finisher around the rim and loves getting to his mid-range jumper, either pulling up off the bounce or creating space with a fadeaway.
The Titans dropped a couple of tough ones on Saturday, but in the second game against Christian Brothers College (Mo.), Webb put up 18 points on 50% shooting, seven assists, six rebounds and two blocks in a 56-54 loss.
Webb recently received an offer from Northern Illinois and had Division I coaches watching him closely in Columbia.
Tanner DeCastro, 2027, Ogallala
Brown wasn’t the only Nebraskan to hit the 30-point mark in Columbia. Tanner DeCastro, the 6-foot-8 forward from Ogallala, did so as well in a 75-51 loss to Lee’s Summit North (Mo.).
DeCastro was Ogallala’s second-leading scorer as a junior, and he’ll have to shoulder a much heavier load in 2026-27 as Ogallala only returns one other starter in senior guard Lincoln Gillen.
DeCastro scored Ogallala’s first 20 points against Lee’s Summit North on the way to a 30-piece, shooting 7-of-15 from the field (1-of-3 from deep) and 7-of-8 from the foul line. He also grabbed six rebounds and blocked three shots. DeCastro scored both off the bounce from the perimeter and in the post, displaying a high skill level for someone of his size.
DeCastro had both Division I and Division II coaches following him in Columbia.
Kellen Murphy, 2027; Carter Peterson, 2027; Braylon Jackson, 2029
I touched on these three in the team section above, but they deserve a mention here as well.
Murphy and Peterson combined for 53 points in a 64-62 win over Tolton Catholic (Mo.) that went down to the buzzer.
Elkhorn North sophomore Braylon Jackson pushes the ball up the floor in transition. Photo by Mike Sautter.
Murphy put on a shooting display, scoring 20 points in the first half and finishing with 27 on 11-of-16 from the field (5-of-10 from 3) plus five rebounds and three assists. Murphy created many of those looks himself, burying jumpers off the bounce with a hand in his face on multiple occasions.
As Tolton’s defense shifted to slow Murphy down as the game went on, Peterson took advantage, scoring 11 of his 26 in the fourth quarter to seal the victory. The jumper wasn’t falling for the 6-foot-5 senior, so he made an impact with his athleticism instead by crashing the offensive glass relentlessly to the tune of seven caroms on that end and grabbing five steals, often turning defense into offense.
I also watched Elkhorn North beat eStem 74-65 on Saturday. The 3-ball wasn’t falling for Murphy like it did in the first one, but he showed he can beat teams with his passing as well, dishing out nine assists to go with his 17 points, six rebounds and two steals. Peterson matched him in that one with 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting, including 3-of-7 from 3.
The star of that game was the sophomore, however. There was a lid on the rim for Jackson against Tolton, but he shook that off to light eStem up for 24 points on 10-of-13 from the field (1-of-3 from deep) and 1-of-2 from the line. The 6-foot-2 guard added four rebounds, four assists and three blocks, making plays with his athleticism and length on both ends of the floor. Jackson’s ability to score from all three levels and make plays for his teammates coupled with his physical tools give him as high of a ceiling as any guard in Nebraska’s 2029 class.
Gavin Miller, 2027, Elkhorn South
The 6-foot-2 senior is as streaky as they come, and when he’s on, he can be nearly impossible to defend. Originally a Millard West Wildcat, Miller will have a chance to make a big impact for the Storm this winter.
In a 63-49 win over Ballard (Ia.) on Saturday morning, Miller came off the bench and immediately went to work, scoring 11 points in his first few minutes on the floor, then pouring in 11 more during his shift in the second period. He totaled 22 points in the first half to give the Storm an 18-point lead at halftime and finished with 27 on 10-of-14 shooting, including 6-of-8 from 3. The degree of difficulty on a number of his attempts was quite high, and he made shots from all three levels throughout the game.
Elkhorn South went 3-1 in Columbia, a good showing for a team returning four of its top six scorers.
Gabe Brachle, 2028; Levi Johnson, 2028, Kearney
Kearney junior Gabe Brachle blocks a shot. Photo by Mike Sautter.
Kearney ended its stay in Columbia with a bang, beating Blue Valley West (Kan.) 71-52 after falling behind 12-4 out of the gates. The biggest reason for that turnaround was the inside-out duo of Brachle and Johnson.
Brachle, a 6-foot-6 post, was a steady interior presence throughout, showcasing good touch and good footwork on his way to 22 points on 10-of-13 shooting, including a pair of and-ones. He added 10 rebounds, two blocks and a steal for an all-around dominant performance.
While Brachle did the heavy lifting in the first half, Johnson took over in the third quarter, pouring in 14 points to help the Bearcats stretch a one-point halftime edge into a double-digit lead. The 6-foot-3 combo-guard finished with 21 points on 8-of-13 from the field (3-of-5 from 3) and 1-of-1 from the line, seven assists, five steals, four rebounds and a block. Johnson led the Bearcats in scoring and rebounding as a sophomore, and he’ll look to build on that this winter.
Shane Holen, 2027, Norris
Norris’ leading returning scorer only got to play one full game in Columbia, but he made the most of it, despite the Titans falling to Clayton (Mo.) 72-56. The 6-foot-4 guard finished with 23 points on 8-of-9 from the field and 3-of-6 from the line plus three assists.
Holen is explosive enough to finish above the rim and crafty enough to finish below it as well, showcasing touch on some difficult reverse layups through tight windows against a team with some real length and athleticism. He also knocked down a fadeaway mid-range jumper and worked the offensive glass. He’s capable of defending all five positions and pulling down rebounds against much taller players.
Unfortunately, lingering back soreness led to Holen shutting it down early in Norris’ second games. Fellow senior Evan Greenfield stepped up in the last three to help to Titans win two of them. Greenfield and Holen will form arguably the top one-two punch in Class B this winter, but the Titans will have to continue developing the supporting cast around them as they seek to replace the production of a very talented senior class from last season’s semifinal finish.
Honorable Mentions
>> Gavin Olsen and Cade Walker, 2027, Millard West
>> Max Jungers, 2027; Isaac Torczon, 2029, Creighton Prep
>> Keaton Weatherholt, 2028, Lincoln Northeast
>> Dakari Wilson, 2027; Josh Andersen, 2028, Lincoln Southwest
>> Trelly Akins, 2027; Kyle Simpson, 2028, Millard North
>> London Dada, 2027, Omaha Westside
>> AJ Joseph, 2027; Sincere Walker-Brown, 2029, Omaha Westview
>> Keaton Melcher, 2028, Bellevue West
