Several athletes sign national letter of intent to play at Nebraska
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Several athletes signed their national letter of intent to compete at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Wednesday marked the first day of the early signing period for many college sports, and Nebraska brought in a plethora of top recruits.
Men’s basketball, women’s basketball, volleyball, and softball were among some of the school’s programs to add 2026 recruits to their rosters.
VOLLEYBALL
The Nebraska volleyball program and Head Coach Dani Busboom Kelly announced the addition of three top prospects who will join the Huskers in 2026.
Outside hitter Gabby DiVita, outside/opposite hitter Jayden Robinson and middle blocker Keoni Williams all plan to join the Huskers in January.
Gabby DiVita – 6-foot-1, outside hitter, Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan
Courtesy Nebraska Volleyball
- Selected to compete in the Under Armor Next All-America game in January 2026
- Was a four-time AAU All-American and won the AAU U15 national title with her club, Legacy
- Won the 16U Triple Crown title and was named MVP in 2024
- Served as the captain for the U.S. National Team Development Program
- Was a three-time JVA All-National Team selection and a three-time USAV All-Tournament Team member
- Named a Prep Volleyball All-American two times
- Played for her mother, Janeil, at Grosse Pointe South High School in Michigan
- Named to the 2025 AVCA Player of the Year Watch List
- Named a 2024 AVCA High School All-American
- Chosen as a finalist for the 2025 Michigan Miss Volleyball Award
- Was a four-time all-state selection and Macomb Area Conference MVP
- As a senior, averaged 5.8 kills per set with a .420 hitting percentage, along with 3.8 digs per set and 49 service aces to lead the Blue Devils to a district title
- Amassed more than 2,000 career kills and 1,100 career digs – both school records
- Ranked the No. 19 overall prospect by PrepDig and No. 20 by PrepVolleyball
“Gabby is a really high-level six-rotation player,” head coach Dani Busboom Kelly said. “She has a great arm and volleyball IQ, and her serve receive and back-row play have always been a strength of her game. Gabby comes from the same club as Harper Murray and Campbell Flynn (Legacy), so we’ve developed a pretty good relationship with them. Gabby is a coach’s kid and has always wanted to be a Husker, and we are fortunate to have her join our program.”
Jayden Robinson – 6-foot-3, outside/opposite hitter, Missouri City, Texas
Courtesy Nebraska volleyball
- Selected to compete in the Under Armour Next All-America Game in January 2026
- Won the gold medal with the U.S. U19 National Team at the 2024 NORCECA Continental Championship
- Was a U.S. U19 National Team member for the 2025 FIVB Women’s U21 World Championships in Indonesia
- Played club volleyball for Houston Skyline
- Won the 17 Open USAV Girls Junior National Championships gold medal in 2025 and was named to the All-Tournament Team
- Earned club first-team All-America honors in 2025
- Claimed the 15 Open bronze medal at the 2023 USAV GJNC
- Was named her club’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2024 and 2025, and Breakout Player in 2023
- Attended Ridge Point High School in Missouri City, Texas
- Named to the 2025 AVCA Player of the Year Watch List
- Named a 2024 AVCA High School All-American
- Earned District 21-6A MVP honors in 2025 and was a three-time all-district honoree
- Was a two-time District 21-6A Blocker of the Year
- In her senior season in 2025, she led Ridge Point to a 33-14 record and a district title
- Averaged 5.0 kills per set with a .381 hitting percentage, as well as 2.9 digs per set and 45 service aces
- Ranked the No. 10 overall prospect by PrepVolleyball and No. 12 by PrepDig
“Jayden is a very physical pin player,” Busboom Kelly said. “She has experience playing on the left pin in club and high school, and she’s played opposite for Team USA. Jayden is a physical attacker and blocker and can hit out of the back row as well. We’re excited to see how her all-around game translates to the college level. She’s one of the big-time athletes in this class and comes from a very athletic family. Jayden has really developed her skill set, and we are thrilled to have her.”
Keoni Williams – 6-foot-4, middle blocker, Fort Worth, Texas
Courtesy Nebraska volleyball
- Selected to compete in the Under Armour Next All-America Game in January 2026
- Was a U.S. U19 National Team member for the 2025 FIVB Women’s U21 World Championships in Indonesia
- With her club, Dallas Skyline, she won the gold medal at the USAV Girls Junior National Championships 15 Open in 2023
- Was named to the All-Tournament Team and MVP following her club national title
- Also won the 13 Open club national championship with Frisco Flyers in 2021
- Named to the 2025 AVCA Player of the Year Watch List
- Won the Triple Crown title with Dallas Skyline in 2023 and was an All-Tournament selection
- Was named district Blocker of the Year in 2022, 2023, and 2024, and was a two-time Dallas Skyline MVP
- Chosen to the AAU Girls Junior National Championship All-Tournament Team in 2023-24
- Earned Texas all-state honors following her sophomore and junior seasons
- Has led Eagle Mountain High School to the Texas 4A Division 2 state semifinals to be played on Nov. 15
- In her senior season, she averaged 3.5 kills per set with a .553 hitting percentage, along with 1.3 blocks per set
- As a freshman at Boswell High School, she broke the school record for blocks in a season with 185
- Ranked the No. 8 overall prospect by PrepDig and No. 10 by PrepVolleyball
“Keoni is an extremely athletic middle blocker,” Busboom Kelly said. “She moves very well laterally across the net, which is important for a middle. We’re impressed with her physicality, and her attacking arm has really developed. Keoni has played for some very good club teams in the Dallas area, and she was able to go to the World Championships this past summer. She’s one of the top middles in this class, and we’re happy she chose to be a Husker.”
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Nebraska men’s basketball coach Fred Hoiberg announced that high school seniors Colin Rice and Jacob Lanier have signed to play basketball with the Huskers beginning next fall.
Both Rice and Lanier are ranked among the top 100 seniors in the country and are four-star prospects by many of the major recruiting services.
“We are pleased to add both Colin and Jacob to our program,” Hoiberg said. “It was a priority to find shooting, playmaking, and positional size with the number of seniors we have on our roster, and both players can flourish in our system with their respective skillsets. They come from successful programs, both at the high school level and in the AAU ranks, and will have an opportunity to contribute early in their college careers.”
Colin Rice – 6-foot-8, forward, Waukee, Iowa
Courtesy Nebraska basketball
- Four-star prospect who is ranked No. 69 in the class by Rivals, No. 76 by 247Sports, and No. 91 by ESPN
- As a junior, Rice led Waukee Northwest to a 23-4 record and a runner-up finish in Class 4A
- Averaged 12.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.6 blocks, and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 37.8 percent from 3-point range in 2024
- Garnered 4A all-tournament team accolades after averaging 18.7 points and 11.3 rebounds over three tournament games
- First-team UA Rise honors by averaging 19.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game in 16 games this summer
- MVP of Session 3 when he averaged 23.6 ppg while hitting on 42.3 percent from 3-point range
- Rice selected Nebraska over a host of schools, including Iowa, Illinois, and Northwestern
“Colin is a versatile wing who can score at all three levels and has the skillset that we are looking for in that position,” Hoiberg said. “He can facilitate offense, play in the pick and roll game, and space the floor with his shooting. Colin has very good body control for his size, and that helps him play through tight spaces and the length to rebound and make an impact on the defensive end. Colin is someone we have watched develop over the years and is someone who can contribute early to our program.”
Jacob Lanier, 6-foot-6, guard, Maumelle, Arkansas
Courtesy Nebraska basketball
- Four-star player by ESPN and 247 Sports, Top-100 recruit by ESPN, 27Sports, and Rivals, which ranked him as the No. 2 player in the state of Arkansas
- Opened his senior year with a 34-point, seven-rebound effort last weekend
- Finished his junior season at DME Academy, helping the school win the Sunshine Independent Athletic Association State championship in 2025
- Earned all-state honors as a first- and second-year student, as he averaged 15 points and seven rebounds per game as a freshman
- Earned first-team honors for the UAA circuit as he averaged 17.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.5 steals per game
- MVP of the 2024 Pangos All-American Camp Top 30 all-star game and attended the 2024 USA Basketball Men’s Junior National Team April minicamp
- Chose Nebraska over other finalists TCU, Ole Miss, East Carolin, and Texas State.
“Jacob is a combo guard who does a good job of getting others involved and is a very good shooter,” Hoiberg said. “His combination of size, physicality, and length shows up on the defensive end, where he can guard multiple positions. When watching him over the summer, the trait that stands out about Jacob is his competitiveness. He’s a winner who plays with a chip on his shoulder, and we are excited to get him on campus.”
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Nebraska signed a trio of top-100 high school seniors from the Midwest.
Ashlyn Koupal, Ava Miles, and Maddi Stewart plan to join Nebraska Head Coach Amy Williams and the Huskers as true freshmen for the 2026-27 campaign.
Ashlyn Koupal – 6-foot-3, forward, Wagner, South Dakota
Courtesy Nebraska basketball
- One of the highest-ranked recruits in Husker history
- No. 22 player in the current ESPN Top 100
- Ranked as a five-star recruit as the No. 10 player in the current 247 Sports rankings (No. 13 composite), as the No. 3 power forward in the nation
- Gatorade South Dakota High School Player of the Year as a junior after averaging 22.8 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 2.3 steals, and 3.5 blocks in leading Wagner to the state tournament
- Produced one quadruple-double, two triple-doubles, and 10 double-doubles as a junior
- Three-time all-state selection, Koupal helped Wagner to a Class A state runner-up finish as a sophomore in 2023
- Koupal is also an outstanding student, carrying a 4.0 GPA
- Chose Nebraska over Duke, Kansas, Michigan State, and TCU
- One of 45 high school players from across the country that was invited to the 2025 USA Basketball Junior National Team minicamp during the NCAA Women’s Final Four
- Entering her senior season, Koupal has amassed 1,939 points, 860 rebounds, 364 assists, 189 steals, and 287 blocks
“Ashlyn has great versatility, which makes her a dangerous threat to score both inside and out,” Williams said. “She makes those around her better with her ability to pass and defend at a high level. She has a strong desire to be great and the work ethic to match. She is going to have a tremendous career as a Husker.”
Ava Miles – 6-foot-0, forward, Kansas City, Missouri
Courtesy Nebraska basketball
- Four-star recruit who was ranked No. 69 nationally by ESPN and No. 70 by 247 Sports
- Ranked as the No. 14 shooting guard in the country by 247 Sports
- No. 3-ranked recruit in the state of Missouri
- Led Staley to a Class 6 runner-up finish with a 29-2 record by averaging 14.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.8 steals per game as a junior
- She also hit 50.1 percent of her shots from the floor, including 33.3 percent of her three-point attempts for the Falcons
- A three-time adidas All-American, Miles is a two-time all-state selection and a three-time all-district and all-conference choice
- 2025 Greater Kansas City Conference Player of the Year
- Chose Nebraska over Maryland and Michigan State
“Ava is an outstanding all-around player who is going to bring energy to the court and the locker room every day,” Williams said. “She is a high-level communicator with the ability to create in transition and score at all three levels. She is willing to do all the little things to help her team win. Husker fans are going to love watching her energy and enthusiasm on the court.”
“It truly is the only place that felt like home,” Miles said. “I knew that no matter how my day was, I would find peace and joy with this program. God told me this is where I needed to go, and I know this program is very, very special.”
Maddi Stewart – 5-foot-9, guard, Claremore, Oklahoma
Courtesy Nebraska basketball
- No. 80 recruit in the country and the No. 16 shooting guard according to 247 Sports
- No. 100 nationally by ESPN
- Stewart averaged 14.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 2.2 steals while leading Lincoln Christian High School to the 2025 Class 4A state championship
- Shot 46 percent from the field and 82 percent at the free line for the Bulldogs, while eclipsing 1,000 career points early in her junior season.
- Unanimous MVP of the Oklahoma Class 4A state tournament after getting 20 points and 12 rebounds in the state championship game
- A two-time first-team all-state selection was named the MVP of the Pinnacle Conference
- Chose Nebraska over Oklahoma, Missouri, and Oklahoma State
“We are so excited about what Maddi brings to the Husker program,” Williams said. “She is a winner! She is also a tough, gritty player who can shoot from outside and create off the dribble. As the daughter of a coach, she brings a high basketball IQ with her and a real desire to grow as a player and person to help her team win championships.”
SOFTBALL
Nebraska head coach Rhonda Revelle announced the addition of seven athletes to the 2026 roster.
The class includes one homegrown Husker, two California athletes, and one player each from Washington, Texas, Missouri, and Colorado.
NU’s 2026 signees consist of four infielders, an outfielder, a catcher, and a pitcher.
“We love so much about this class,” Revelle said. “They are athletic and competitive and love to win. They are team-first players who are all “N” on coming to Nebraska and are on a mission to do big things for the Red Team.”
Cali Bentz – pitcher, Columbus, Nebraska
Courtesy Nebraska softball
- Second-team Class B All-State member for both the Lincoln Journal Star and Omaha World-Herald in 2023
- Honorable mention All-State in both 2022 and 2024
- Four-time first-team All-Conference selection for Lakeview High School
- Owns Lakeview single-season records for game strikeouts, hits, batting average, home runs, innings pitched, and total strikeouts
- Four-year captain in high school
- Named to the Triple Crown Sports Nationals All-Tournament Team while playing club ball for Nebraska Gold
“Cali, a homegrown Husker, continues to add to the native Nebraskans in the circle for the Red Team,” Revelle said. “Cali has an excellent drop ball and mixes speed well. The sky is the limit for this right-handed pitcher, as she has the talent and desire to make an immediate impact for our team. We have full belief that Cali will be a constant fixture in our pitching rotation.”
Kali Bogart – infielder, Lee’s Summit, Missouri
Courtesy Nebraska softball
- National champion with her 18U Aces Fastpitch club team in 2024, and was the co-MVP
- Played three years of high school ball at Lee’s Summit West after spending her freshman year at Oak Park High School
- Four-time All-Conference selection in high school
- Named to the All-Region, All-District, and All-State teams in her sophomore, junior, and senior years
- Four-sport athlete in high school
“Kali is a competitive multi-sport athlete who plays the game with a lot of intensity and confidence,” Revelle said. “You feel Kali’s competitive, winning spirit all around the team. Kali is a poised athlete who brings significant offensive power to the plate. We anticipate her stepping right in and competing at a high level for the Red Team.”
Katelyn Crosby – infielder, Frisco, Texas
Courtesy Nebraska softball
- Named the District 12-5A Defensive Player of the Year in 2025
- Earned District 9-5A Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2024 and earned District 9-5A honorable mention in 2023
- Academic All-District team member in 2024 and 2025
“Katelyn is an athletic infielder with smooth hands and an excellent arm,” Revelle said. “She loves the game and is the kind of teammate that everyone loves and leans on, as she is always bringing positivity and lifting others. Katelyn has the potential to develop into an elite infielder, and we are excited to get her on the dirt and working for the Red Team.”
Brooke Lebsock – catcher, Riverside, California
Courtesy Nebraska softball
- All-League Big VIII Team member in 2023 and 2024
- Earned All-CIF Southern Section Division 3 honors in 2024
- Named to the Big League Dreams Invitational All-Tournament team in 2025
“Brooke is a catcher who can also play a corner position,” Revelle said. “She has a strong arm and hits for power. She will add immediate depth and strength to all those positions. Brooke has played the game at a very high level, and that experience will help her adjust to the speed of the college game. It will be exciting to watch her develop and grow.”
Jamie Oakland – outfielder, San Jose, California
Courtesy Nebraska softball
- Three-time WCAL Player of the Year for Saint Francis High School
- Three-time WCAL first-team selection and a three-time member of the Mercury News All-County Softball first team from 2023-2025
- Cal High School Sports Player of the Year in 2023
- CalHiSports first-team All-State honoree
- Recognized as a CalHiSports second-team member in 2024 and 2025
“Jaime is a dynamic and speedy triple-threat offensive player who adds a new wrinkle to our offensive weaponry,” Revelle said. “She is also a smart and gifted outfielder who makes difficult plays look easy. Jaime can change the game on both sides of the ball, and we are looking forward to getting Jaime in the scarlet and cream.”
Lucy Thompson – infielder, Castle Rock, Colorado
Courtesy Nebraska softball
- A four-year letterwinner for Legend High School
- First-team All-State honoree her senior year and was on the All-State second team her junior year
- Four-time All-Conference team member, including three years on the first team
- Continental League Player of the Year in her senior year
- Earned a varsity golden glove all four years of high school
“This fiery athlete packs a punch as she will do whatever it takes to win,” Revelle said. “A student of the game, Lucy can beat an opponent with her glove, her bat, her speed, or her heady play. Simply put, Lucy is fun to watch as she plays the game at one speed—all out. In addition, Lucy’s Nebraska roots run deep as she has many family members from Nebraska or living in Nebraska.”
Shelby Southard – infielder, Snohomish, Washington
Courtesy Nebraska softball
- Washington 1A Player of the Year and the Emerald Sound Conference Player of the Year in 2025
- Emerald Sound Conference Player of the Year in 2024, along with being named to the Washington first-team All-State list
- First-team Emerald Sound Conference honors in 2023, and was a two-time Northwest Fastpitch League/Alliance Player of the Month
“Shelby is coming to Nebraska with a polished and electric defensive skillset,” Revelle said. “She is a feisty and energetic competitor who will infuse energy into Bowlin Stadium. A natural leader, we look for Shelby to make her presence known immediately, both on the field and as a leader.”
