Kearney, Neb. – Nebraska Kearney head men’s basketball coach Marty Levinson announced today the addition of three high school seniors and five transfers to the Lopers 2026-27 roster.
The group joins 10 returners (one senior, four juniors, three sophomores and two redshirt freshmen) from last year’s squad. The newcomers hail from seven different states and Senegal. Among UNK's vets are DJ Jamerson (Cibolo, Texas) and Clayton Moore (Mullen).
In 2025-26, UNK went 8-5 in the Health & Sports Center, increased its win total from the previous year and beat two Top 25 teams. The Lopers start the 2026-27 regular season Nov. 9 (Mon.) at Wayne State with official practice beginning Oct. 8 (Thurs.).
Nate Kelley (G, 6-0, 175 lbs. Scottsbluff/Scottsbluff H.S.)
2027 Omaha World-Herald Boys Athlete of the Year
Helped the SHS Bearcats win the 2026 Class B state title
Set school career records for assists and steals
Phillip Nadeau (F, 6-7, 20 lbs., Oak Grove, Mo./Oak Grove H.S.)
Career averages of 16.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 1.6 assists
Over 1,300 career points with 147 made 3’s
All-State selection
Cristian Simmons (F, 6-8, 210 lbs., Laveen, Ariz./Sunnyslope H.S.)
Helped Sunnyslope win Arizona’s Open Class state title in 2025-26
Second-team Class 6A All-Region
Played for Compton (Calif.) Magic and Phoenix Runnin’ Rebels in the summer
Jamaria “Juice” Clark (Sr., G, 6-2, 195 lbs., Doyline, La./U. Missouri-Kansas City)
Played for the Division I Kangaroos, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M and Lee (TX) College
All-Region selection at NEO and played against Levinson’s teams
As a high school senior at Doyline H.S., scored 70 in a game
Tavian Cruse (R-Jr., F, 6-5, 230 lbs., Bonner Springs, Kan./Johnson (KS) County C.C.)
Spent three years at JCCC, earning 2026 first-team NJCAA Division II All-American honors
2026 MVP of the Kansas Junior College Conference
34 career double doubles
Mouhammed “Mo” Mbaye (Sr., C, 6-10, 235 lbs., Saint Louis, Senegal/UTEP)
Played for the Division I Miners and Trinity Valley (Texas) C.C.
Appeared in 24 games for UTEP in 2025-26
Played for Levinson at TVCC and part of a 2025 national championship team
Amarion Savage (R-Sr., G, 6-0, 175 lbs., Aurora, Ill./Lenoir-Rhyne, N.C.)
Played in all 35 games for L-R in 2025-26, helping the Bears reach the Division II Sweet 16
Previously at Division I Eastern Washington and Charleston (S.C). Southern
All-Conference at Pensacola (Fla.) State College
Elhadji “ET” Thiam (R-Sr., F, 6-8, 210 lbs., Pickerington, Ohio/Auburn-Montgomery)
Was at Division II Tiffin (Ohio), Florida Tech and AUM as well as Lakeland (Ohio) College
In 2025-26 for AUM, averaged 10.7 points and 5.2 rebounds per game
Defensive Player of the Year for Lakeland