Braden Frager Season 2026-27

HONORS & AWARDS

• 2026 Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year (Coaches)
• 2026 Big Ten All-Freshman Team
• 2025 Hall of Fame Classic MVP
• 2025 Hall of Fame Classic All-Tournament Team
• 3x Big Ten Freshman of the Week (Jan. 19, 2026; Dec. 22, 2025; Nov. 24, 2025)
• UNL Male Rookie Athlete of the Year (2026)
• Academic All-Big Ten (2026)
• Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll (Fall 2024, 2025)
• UNL Bronze Academic Medallion (2026)
• Tom Osborne Citizenship Team (2025, 2026)

2025-26
Frager put together one of the best freshman seasons in school history, as Nebraska won a school-record 28 games on its way to the most successful season in school history. He played in 33 games, averaging 11.8 points per game on 49 percent shooting and 3.8 rebounds per game. Frager was tabbed as the Big Ten's Sixth Man of the Year and was a member of the five-member all-freshman team, a group which included two picks in the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery. He finished in the top five of several categories on NU's all-time freshman list, including points (391, fourth), 3-pointers (57, second) and scoring average (11.8, fifth). He totaled double figures 20 times, including six 20-point efforts, and became just the second Husker freshman in the Big Ten era to average double figures. Frager had 18 of his 20 double-figure games off the bench, a total which was fourth nationally among power conference players and was a three-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week selection.

He was at his best during the Huskers' NCAA Tournament run, averaging 14.7 ppg on 47 percent shooting along with 3.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. Frager tallied 16 points, including 5-of-8 from 3-point range, in 25 minutes against Iowa in the NCAA Sweet 16. The Lincoln native delivered one of the most iconic moments in school history in NU's second-round win over Vanderbilt, hitting a driving layup with 2.2 seconds left to give NU a 74-72 win. He finished with 15 points and five rebounds against the Commodores and had 13 points, a season-high four assists and three boards in NU's first-round win over Troy. 

In Big Ten action, Frager played in 18 contests, averaging 11.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game He reached double figures nine times, including four 20-point performances. He totaled a season-high 23 points against Oregon while matching NU's freshman record with seven 3-pointers in the win over the Ducks. He also had 21 points and tied his season best with eight rebounds against Maryland and 20-point outings against No. 9 Illinois and at Northwestern. Frager earned Big Ten Freshman of the Week after the games against Oregon and at Northwestern, as he averaged 21.5 ppg in NU's two wins. The performance against Illinois included six 3-pointers and was his first game back after missing two games because of an ankle injury suffered in the first half against Washington. He made his first career Big Ten start against Penn State, finishing with 15 points, including four 3-pointers, and grabbing six rebounds against the Nittany Lions. Frager also keyed NU's win at Ohio State with 15 points, including seven points in the final 2:18, and six rebounds in the three-point win.

Frager made his mark quicky for the Huskers, totaling 22 points in his college debut against West Georgia, the third-highest debut by a freshman in school history. That was one of eight double-figure efforts in non-conference action, highlighted by his MVP performance in the Hall of Fame Classic. In that tournament, he averaged 18.0 ppg on 72 percent shooting and 7.0 rpg in wins over New Mexico and Kansas State. Against the Lobos, he totaled 20 points, including 4-of-5 from long range and grabbed eight rebounds, while following up with 16 points and six rebounds in the title game against Kansas State to capture Big Ten Freshman honors for the first time in his career. He closed non-conference play with 17 points against North Dakota and added 15 points in the win over New Hampshire.

2024-25
Frager redshirted in his first season of Nebraska, adjusting to Division I basketball. He worked with the scout team during the season helping the starters prepare for games. 
 
BEFORE NEBRASKA
Frager was a three-year performer at Lincoln Southwest High School under Coach Alex Bahe before reclassifying into the class of 2024. A three-star recruit by On3, 247Sports and Rivals, Frager was ranked among the top-200 players in the country before he reclassified to the class of 2024.  A two-time honorable-mention all-state performer by the Lincoln Journal Star, he averaged 18.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.2 steals per game in 2023-24, as the Silver Hawks went 15-8 and lost in the district finals. A first-team Heartland Athletic Conference pick, he closed the year with a flourish, totaling at least 20 points in six of the final eight contests, including a school-record 39-point performance at Kearney. It was one of three 30-point games that Frager had in 2023-24, as he also recorded four double-doubles in his final season at the school. Frager earned honorable-mention all-state honors as a sophomore in 2022-23, averaging 11.4 points and 7.0 rebounds per game as Lincoln Southwest went 15-9 and reached the district finals. Frager shot 48 percent from the field, including 42 percent from 3-point range. He helped Lincoln Southwest to three straight district finals appearances during his high school career. In the classroom, he was a three-year member of the honor roll at Lincoln Southwest. Frager played for the ETG Midwest AAU program for Coach Ryan Reeder, averaging 15.0 ppg during his final season of AAU basketball. Frager selected Nebraska over Creighton and Iowa State.

PERSONAL
The son of Jodi Frager and Rick and Jean Frager, Braden has an older sister (Izzy), a younger brother (Brecken) and two stepsisters (Sydney and Anna). He majors in criminology and criminal justice at Nebraska.