Top Iowa Basketball Prospect Commits to Big Ten School

Waukee Northwest star Colin Rice commits to Nebraska

Waukee Northwest's Colin Rice (24) scores off a layup against Cedar Rapids Kennedy on Monday, March 10, 2025, at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. | Cody Scanlan/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

For Colin Rice, the pull of a former Iowa high school standout and Iowa State legend was enough to get him to commit out of state.

Rice, a four-star prospect who will be a senior this fall at Waukee Northwest High School, committed to Nebraska on Thursday. He picked Fred Hoiberg and the Huskers over offers from Iowa, Illinois, Northwestern and several others.

NEWS: 4⭐️ Colin Rice (@colinlrice) has committed to Nebraska, he tells @Rivals.

The 6’8 small forward chose the Cornhuskers over offers from Iowa, Illinois, Northwestern, and others. https://t.co/t0aFp6vtL0 pic.twitter.com/rB20Aokmgi

— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) July 24, 2025

The 6-foot-8 Rice averaged 12.5 points with 7.2 rebounds per game last year for the Wolves, shooting almost 54 percent from the field and 38 percent from the 3-point line. Waukee Northwest advanced to the Class 4A championship game, falling to West Des Moines Valley.

Rice will be one of several returning starters for the Wolves along with Landon Davis and Mack Heitland from last year. 

Hoiberg was a prep standout at Ames High School before embarking on a career that included becoming an icon at Iowa State and several years in the NBA.