Minnesota transfer Pharrel Payne emerging as a priority target for Nebraska
by:
Robin Washut•4 minutes•
RobinWashut
As Nebraska works to restock its 2024-25 roster,
Fred Hoiberg and his staff have contacted several new targets over the past few weeks.
Among those is a familiar name for the Huskers.
HuskerOnline confirmed that NU held an in-home visit with Minnesota transfer forward
Pharrel Payne on Tuesday.
The 6-foot-9, 255-pound sophomore played in 32 games, with 19 starts, for the Golden Gophers this season. He averaged 10.0 points on 60% shooting, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks.
That included scoring 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting with four boards and two blocks over a season-high 35 minutes in UM’s win over Nebraska in December.
Payne’s departure was significant for Minnesota, and numerous high-major programs immediately reached out once he entered the NCAA Transfer Portal.
The Huskers were among the first to do so, and things have quickly progressed. After meeting Payne in Minneapolis, NU is close to locking in a visit to Lincoln.
A source told HuskerOnline that Payne planned to take around four or five visits, with Nebraska likely to be one. Those trips should begin after the NCAA recruiting dead period ends on Thursday, April 11.
The Huskers currently have seven available scholarships to fill. On Wednesday, they hosted North Dakota State big man
Andrew Morgan on an unofficial visit. Morgan will decide between NU and Minnesota in the coming days.
NU also made the final four for Omaha transfer
Frankie Fidler. The former Bellevue West standout visited campus last week and is down to Nebraska, Pickle Smoochers, Wisconsin, and Michigan State.