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Nebraska Men's Basketball Secures Official Visit from 4-Star International Prospect

Mathias Alessanco is a 6-foot-8 small forward from Brazil and will visit Lincoln to watch the Huskers take on No. 9 Illinois.
Trevor Tarr|
Mathias Alessanco is one of the top international prospects in high school basketball.
Mathias Alessanco is one of the top international prospects in high school basketball. | @tabeladode3/X

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Nebraska Cornhuskers

Not many teams can say their profile rose after suffering a loss, yet Nebraska basketball managed to do just that.

Now, staring at the second consecutive top-10 matchup in the same calendar week, the Huskers have a lot more than just a game on the line Saturday afternoon. While the 2025-26 team focuses on the task at hand, they also have the opportunity to make an impression on several of the nation's top recruits planning to be in attendance. None is more important than 2026 four-star small forward prospect Mathias Alessanco, who will be the lone official visitor of the group.

The 6-foot-8 forward from Brazil has drawn the interest of several of the top programs around the country, and the Huskers' recent success has put Nebraska squarely in the mix for his signature. With that in mind, here's everything you need to know about the four-star prospect before he arrives on campus later this week.

Though he is unranked as a national prospect due to his international status, Rivals ranks Alessanco as a four-star recruit. To date, he's earned scholarship offers from Texas and Michigan as well. Both of those schools have hosted the 2026 prospect on official visits, and now the Huskers will become the third Division I program to host him.

For Nebraska, which has signed two other recruits in the 2026 class, Alessanco would likely look to round out their yearly haul. Currently ranked as the No. 31 overall class, adding a third four-star recruit would almost certainly move them into the top 25 at the very least.

Nebraska's most highly touted signee to date is Colin Rice, who checks in at 6-foot-7 and 180 pounds, offering similar length to the floor, though his skill set leans more toward the perimeter. While he’s capable of attacking off the bounce and finishing at the rim, the Iowa product is most effective when creating scoring opportunities from beyond the arc. Nebraska’s staff is bullish on his offensive upside, and drawing comparisons to Pryce Sandfort offers a useful snapshot of what the No. 79 overall prospect in the 2026 class could bring to Lincoln over the coming years.

Jacob Lanier is viewed internally as a complete, two-way prospect with significant upside. Slotted as the No. 88 player nationally in the 2026 class, the Arkansas native elected to join the Huskers over programs like Kansas State, Arkansas, and Creighton. Measuring 6-foot-5, Lanier gives up some height compared to Rice, but his length and versatility have consistently stood out, allowing him to maximize his physical tools at the high school level.

Here is more context on Mathias Alessanco, as outlined in his Overtime Elite (OTE) player profile:

Mathias Vazquez joins RWE for his first season at OTE where he instantly slots in as one of the top international prospects not only in the league but in all of high school basketball. Vazquez comes to OTE as a highly touted international prospect who is best known for using his size effectively around the basket and for his impressive footwork

Prior to coming to OTE, he most recently played for Real Betis Baloncesto Sevilla 2nd Team in Spain. While in Spain, he started at small forward and led the team in scoring with 17.7 PPG and rebounding at 8.5 RPG. At 16 years old, Vazquez played for Brazil at the U18 FIBA AmeriCup, where he was the team’s second leading scorer at 12.0 PPG while also finishing second in rebounds (5.2 RPG) and assists (2.8 APG). He was elevated to the Brazilian Senior National Team at just 16 years old, where he played at the FIBA AmeriCup Qualifiers.

The Huskers are set to welcome several 2027 prospects on unofficial visits over the weekend as well. Most notable is Dawson Battie, who is ranked as the No. 10 overall prospect in his class. As a junior, the 6-foot-7 star has Nebraska battling a group of programs such as SMU, Texas, and Kentucky for his eventual commitment. Hoiberg's success has catapulted the Big Red back into contention for his talents after being one of the first Power Conference schools to offer him back in 2025.

They're also expected to be joined by fellow 2027 prospect, Donovan Davis. The four-star recruit player will come to Lincoln for his second unofficial visit in as many years and has the Huskers beating programs like Marquette and Iowa State, amongst others. A top 30 overall prospect in his class, Davis stands 6-foot-7, 200 pounds, and projects to be an instant-impact addition to whichever school he chooses.

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Trevor Tarr
TREVOR TARR

Trevor Tarr is the founder of Skers Scoop, a Nebraska football media outlet delivering original coverage through writing, graphics, and video content. He began his career in collegiate athletics at the University of South Dakota, producing media for the football team and assisting with athletic fundraising. A USD graduate with a background in journalism and sports marketing, Trevor focuses on creative, fan-driven storytelling in college football.

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