C.J. Wilcher has entered the transfer portal, a source confirmed to 247Sports.
The Husker shooting guard still has one more year of eligibility after graduating in December and receiving recognition on Senior Day.
As a member of Nebraska’s 8-man rotation, Wilcher had a significant role in the team’s success this year, helping them qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the first time in ten years.
Following Friday’s 98-83 loss to Texas A&M, Wilcher stated in the locker room, “A lot of emotions and hard work went into this season.” Being able to play with this group of guys and with these coaches, and having the experience to even play here—as you guys know, the past two years have been a tremendous experience for me personally—is kind of difficult to describe but Just to get over that hump to get here is a special thing.”
Wilcher is the fourth Husker to enter the portal since the season ended, joining Eli Rice, Ramel Lloyd Jr. and Blaise Keita. Nebraska now has five of its 13 scholarship spaces open.
Veterans Brice Williams, Juwan Gary and Rienk Mast are still among the eight remaining scholarship players, as is point guard Ahron Ulis.
While the freshman Rice’s departure definitely grabbed notice on Monday, Wilcher is the most notable of the names to leave so far, given his three years in the program and that he averaged 7.7 points per game with a 45 percent shooting percentage this season.
While his scoring wasn’t as prevalent the last month of the season, he had a memorable 22-point outburst against Wisconsin on Feb. 1 to help fuel a dramatic Husker comeback in one of the most critical games of the season. It capped a stretch in which he scored in double figures of nine of 11 games. At that point he seemed in the running for the Big Ten’s sixth man of the year honors.
Wilcher relished in the turn the Husker program made this season. He said after the NCAA tourney loss it was tough that it was the last time this particular group of guys would be together.
“Practicing with these players, going to the gym with them, competing at a high level, having fun, and playing at the PBA—things that won’t happen again, even off the court. About that specific team, he stated, “That’s really what it is.”
For me, though, Wilcher’s remarks on Friday gave the impression that he might be considering a comeback, but it’s evident that you can only draw so much from candid remarks made immediately following a season.
Wilcher noted at the time, “Boog (Jaron Coleman) was saying earlier it’s like a trampoline.” It seems as though we are rebounding and readjusting to our position. Many of the players will be back, and our coaches are still in place. We will still be in a position to return to this location. For me personally, and I’m quite sure from these people, it’s about carrying water, cutting wood, and starting when we get back.”
