NU makes history landing 2021 5-star Bryce McGowens

In just their second recruiting class at Nebraska, head coach Fred Hoiberg and his staff made history by landing a commitment from 2021 Greenville (S.C.) Legacy Early College guard Bryce McGowens on Friday.

A five-star recruit rated the No. 23 overall player in the ’21 class, McGowens became the Huskers’ highest-rated and first five-star high school commit of the Rivals era (2002-present).

The 6-foot-6 former Florida State commit chose NU over Georgia, as well as other suitors LSU and Michigan.

Nebraska had several draws for McGowens, including Hoiberg’s appealing style of play, NBA background, and track record of producing NBA draft picks during his time at Iowa State.

There was also his longstanding relationship with NU assistant Matt Abdelmassih, which dated back to when McGowens was in eighth grade.

But the most obvious connection was the fact that his older brother, Trey McGowens, is currently a junior guard for the Huskers.

“I have a great relationship with their staff,” McGowens told Rivals last month. “My brother plays there and would love to play alongside him one day. They play fast and with pace and space that will give me freedom to make plays on and off the ball.

“Coach Hoiberg has 19 years of NBA experience and should be able to help me accomplish my goals.”

McGowens averaged 25.3 points per game, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game last season as a junior and has shot better than 40 percent from 3-point range during his high school career.

McGowens initially committed to Florida State over roughly two dozen other offers back in February but decided to re-open his recruitment eight months later.

Given his lofty recruiting profile, college basketball’s most prominent names immediately came calling as soon as he went back on the market. McGowens picked up new offers from Kentucky, Kansas, North Carolina, Arizona, Oregon, and many more.

In the end, McGowens narrowed down his final five schools to Nebraska, Georgia, Florida State, LSU, and Michigan.

As many expected from the moment he backed off his pledge to FSU, McGowens followed his older brother to Lincoln.

Jamie Shaw of the South Carolina-based Rivals.com preps site, PalmettoHoops.com, has seen McGowens play many times and wrote this recent evaluation:

“A lengthy guard who can handle like a primary initiator, shoot with deep range and pass the ball very unselfishly. Standing 6-foot-6, he has the size, and ability, to both see over the defense and finish among the trees.

“As he continues to put on weight, the sky is the limit with his upside. He has a great foundation of skill with a prototypical wing’s frame. There have been some comparisons thrown around with Devin Booker, Will Barton, and even Malcolm Brogden at the same stage.”

McGowens joins Ranger (Texas) College sophomore guard Keisei Tominaga and Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei center Wilhelm Breidenbach, who both signed on Wednesday, in Nebraska’s 2021 class.

It should be noted that McGowens’ commitment currently puts the Huskers one over their 13-scholarship limit for the 2021-22 season.