Nebraska Forward Berke Büyüktuncel Enters Transfer Portal

The 6-foot-10 junior averaged 6.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per game last season.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 4:08pm

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Nebraska basketball forward Berke Büyüktuncel has entered the NCAA transfer portal, according to a report from On3. Büyüktuncel, a 6-foot-10 junior from Bursa, Turkey, played two seasons with the Huskers after transferring from UCLA. He averaged 6.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per game this past season and helped Nebraska secure their first-ever NCAA tournament win before being eliminated in the Sweet 16.

Why it matters

Büyüktuncel's decision to enter the transfer portal is a significant loss for the Nebraska basketball program, as he was a key contributor and starter for the team. His departure creates a hole in the Huskers' frontcourt that will need to be filled heading into next season.

The details

In his first season at Nebraska, Büyüktuncel averaged 6.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. This past season, he reached double figures in scoring six times and had three games with 10 or more rebounds. Büyüktuncel played a crucial role in helping Nebraska make history by securing their first-ever NCAA tournament win before the team's elimination in the Sweet 16.

  • Büyüktuncel entered the NCAA transfer portal on Wednesday, April 8, 2026.
  • He played two seasons at Nebraska after transferring from UCLA.

The players

Berke Büyüktuncel

A 6-foot-10 junior forward from Bursa, Turkey who played two seasons at Nebraska after transferring from UCLA.

Pete Nakos

A reporter with On3 who first reported that Büyüktuncel had entered the NCAA transfer portal.

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What they’re saying

“It was just like a Disney story. The season was awesome. We won the first two games then lost the last game to our rivals. That stinks.”

— Berke Büyüktuncel, Nebraska Forward

What’s next

Büyüktuncel will have one year of eligibility remaining as he looks to transfer to a new program.

The takeaway

Büyüktuncel's departure is a significant loss for Nebraska, as he was a key contributor and starter for the team. His transfer creates a hole in the Huskers' frontcourt that will need to be addressed in the offseason.