Top-40 senior Dawson Battie has committed to Nebraska, he told ESPN on Monday, becoming the second-highest-ranked recruit to commit to the Cornhuskers in the past 20 years.
Nebraska has been the perceived favorite for Battie for several weeks, although Stanford also remained in the mix after he visited in the summer. But Battie went to Lincoln this past weekend, where Fred Hoiberg and the Cornhuskers secured his commitment.
"Nebraska is the best fanbase I have ever experienced," Battie said. "In practice, Coach Fred is very efficient. He does not beat around the bush, and he does not have to yell to get his point across. The players and coaches respect him."
Battie developed a strong relationship with Hoiberg, but assistant coach Ernie Zeigler was the point man on his recruitment.
"Coach Ernie Zeigler did a great job recruiting me," Battie said. "He has been recruiting me since my freshman year. His consistency and support really stood out to me through all the ups and downs. He has always been there at the right times, whether I played well or not. I never questioned his interest. Those are the types of coaches I want to play for.
"Coach Fred is super supportive, too. He is a great and genuine guy, and I love what he has done with the program. Of course, their Sweet 16 run stood out. I love his play style of unselfish basketball, where many guys touch the ball and get good shots, and his emphasis on creating quality looks in a positionless offense. I love how he coaches. He is a down-to-earth guy."
Battie comes from a basketball family. His parents both played college basketball, and his older brother, Dillon, plays at Wichita State. Battie's uncle is Tony Battie, who played 14 seasons in the NBA for six franchises.
A 6-foot-8 forward who plays for St. Mark's (Texas), Battie is ranked No. 34 overall in the SC Next 100 -- the No. 7 power forward.
Battie is a versatile and strong power forward who is not flashy but is grounded in the basics, with a skill set that allows him to produce in a variety of ways. He picks his spots and creates mismatches as he is effective with his back to the basket. He shows straight-line driving ability and is working on his catch-and-shoot opportunities. His passing is an underrated tool.
At the other end of the floor, his positioning, length, mobility and awareness make him a reliable defender and a potential switchable player who can guard any position in the frontcourt. He rebounds well, but he could be much more of a factor on the glass given his size. At this stage, offensively, his major strengths are flashing into the paint, finding an open spot and finishing, along with putbacks and straight-line drives. His basketball IQ shows up in game action as he does not force opportunities.
"My uncle, Tony Battie, told me, '90% of the game happens when the ball isn't in your hand, so your focus should be on how you impact 90% of the game,'" Battie said.
Battie is just the second top-35 recruit to commit to Nebraska since the ESPN recruiting database began in 2007, following Bryce McGowens, who was ranked No. 26 in the 2021 class.
He's also the second pickup for Hoiberg in 2027, following three-star forward Tyler Schlagel.
