Hoiberg Joins Suns
Phoenix Suns Plan to Sign Undrafted Nebraska Standout Sam Hoiberg for Depth
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Key Points
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Hoiberg connected on 38.1% from three this season, hitting 84 attempts.
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Finished second in the Big Ten in steals and eighth in assists in 2025-26.
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Earned First-Team Academic All-America honors, the first Nebraska men's basketball player to do so since 2016.
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Spent five years at Nebraska, redshirting in 2021-22 as a walk-on before his role grew.
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Started 35 games this season for Nebraska.
The Phoenix Suns are set to sign Sam Hoiberg, a 23-year-old guard from Nebraska, as an undrafted free agent following the 2026 NBA Draft, according to Bright Side of the Sun. Hoiberg, the son of Nebraska head coach Fred Hoiberg, went undrafted despite a breakout senior season in which he averaged 9.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 2.0 steals per game.
The signing came hours after the draft concluded, WOWT reported. Hoiberg is expected to join the Suns for Summer League. The deal terms were not disclosed. He shot 38.1% from three-point range this season, hitting 84 triples on 220 attempts.
Walk-On to Pro: Hoiberg's Five-Year Rise
Hoiberg joined Nebraska in August 2021 as a preferred walk-on — a player with no scholarship. He chose to redshirt his first year to build strength. His role grew slowly. By his senior year, he was a team captain and starter in all 35 games, according to WOWT.
His climb mirrors players like Alex Caruso and T.J. McConnell — undrafted grinders who made NBA rosters by playing tough defense and making smart decisions. Sam finished second in the Big Ten in steals and posted a 1.2 turnover ratio. He also earned First-Team Academic All-America honors with a 3.98 GPA, the first Nebraska men's basketball player to do so since 2016, according to Fremont Tribune.
Nebraska's Best Season Ever Set the Stage
Nebraska finished 28-7 this season — the best record in program history. The Cornhuskers reached the NCAA Sweet 16 for the first time ever. Hoiberg was the defensive anchor of a top-20 defense nationally, per KenPom data cited by Bright Side of the Sun.
The historic run put Hoiberg on the radar of analytics-focused front offices. The Suns were among them. Fred Hoiberg said of his son: "As a coach, I lost my best defender. As a father, I'm incredibly proud. Sam earned every minute of this through sheer work ethic."
Why the Suns Targeted a Defensive-Minded Guard
Phoenix skipped the second round of the draft entirely and pivoted to the undrafted market, Bright Side of the Sun reported. The Suns struggled with bench depth and perimeter defense during their 2025-26 playoff run. Hoiberg fits their need for a point-of-attack defender — someone who can guard the ball on the outside.
Draft analyst Jonathan Wasserman noted that Hoiberg's "Stocks" — combined steals and blocks per 40 minutes — were elite, and that the Suns are betting his 38.1% three-point shooting holds up with NBA spacing. Sam said: "I've spent five years proving people wrong about what a walk-on can do. I'm grateful to James Jones and the Suns for seeing my value beyond the stat sheet."
Scouts Split on Ceiling, but Nebraska Sees Proof of Concept
Not everyone is sold. Some scouts flag that Hoiberg stands just 6'0" or 6'1", which is small for an NBA guard. They worry he may not have the speed to defend elite NBA point guards night after night. His success, some argue, came inside his father's system.
Nebraska reporters push back. They point to his 5.3 rebounds per game — rare for a guard — as proof of his toughness. The signing is also a big deal for Nebraska recruiting. It shows that walk-ons can develop into NBA prospects in Lincoln, which could boost the program's appeal in the transfer portal, according to 1011 Now.
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