Fresh off his first Big Ten win of the season on Sunday, Fred Hoiberg got some more good news to start his week as 2022 JUCO big man Blaise Keita has committed to the Huskers, according to a source.
The 6-foot-10, 235-pound center from Mali will have three seasons of eligibility after joining Nebraska for the 2022-23 season. He is currently at Coffeyville Community College in Kansas. Because this season of competition won’t count toward eligibility at the JUCO level — just like every other level of college basketball — Keita will be a freshman again next season.
Through eight games this season, Keita is averaging 12.1 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.5 blocks while shooting 55.6% from the field and 75% from the free-throw line. He scored a season-high 20 points against Seward County Community College earlier this month and grabbed a season-high 12 rebounds the game prior against Garden City Community College. Coffeyville is 8-0 this season.
Keita attended Sunrise Christian Academy in Bel Aire, Kansas, a basketball powerhouse at the high school and prep school levels. He played his summer ball for MOKAN Elite EYBL, one of the top programs in the country.
Keita has played for Mali at the international youth level, averaging 10.2 points and 10.3 rebounds in the 2017 FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup.
Keita is Nebraska’s first 2022 commit.
