Huskers Add Second JUCO All-American

Lincoln ? University of Nebraska baseball coach Mike Anderson announced the signing of junior college All-American Brandon Buckman to a National Letter-of-Intent at Nebraska for the 2005 season.

Buckman, a 6-foot-6, 215-pound first baseman, comes to Nebraska via Garden City (Kan.) Community College, where he played two seasons for Coach Rick Sabath. This past season, Buckman earned NJCAA All-America honors, batting .460 with 16 homers and 69 RBIs, leading the Broncbusters to a 36-22 record.

The first-team All-Region VI and Jayhawk League honoree ranked among the national leaders in hitting, while pacing his squad in nearly every offensive category, including hits (87), runs (55), triples (five), slugging percentage (.823) and on-base percentage (.523). Buckman, who comes from the same junior college as two-time All-Big 12 selection Curtis Ledbetter, posted the highest average by a GCCC player since the 1989 season.

"It is close to home and a winning program, and I want a chance to go the College World Series," Buckman said.

"Coach Sabath highly recommended Brandon to us, and we are happy that he did," Anderson said. "His offensive production has been evident at both the high school and junior college level. He has the opportunity to help us at a number of positions, including first base, outfield or at designated hitter."

Originally from Monument, Colo., Buckman attended Lewis-Palmer High School, where he was a two-time first-team all-area selection and earned first-team all-district honors as a senior. Buckman selected Nebraska over Michigan and Kentucky.