Nebraska Kearney head men’s basketball coach Marty Levinson has announced the addition of three out-of-state players.
Joining the Lopers for the 2025-26 season are guards Madison Peaster(Little Rock, Ark./McCook C.C.) and Wade Williams (Huntsville, Texas/Central Baptist College, Ark.) and guard/forward Zeek Brown(Kansas City, Mo./Oak Park H.S.). Peaster has two years of eligibility remaining with Williams having one.
UNK will announce a group of in-state newcomers soon. The Lopers must replace three seniors off last year’s squad in guards Allen Taylor and Trey Hepburn and forward Chase Thompson.
Peaster (6-2, 180 lbs.) spent his freshman season at National Park College in Arkansas where he was a teammate of current Lopers Ja’Bryant Hill, Taylor Harrell and Anthony Swift. The Nighthawks won the NJCAA Division II national title that winter with head coach Dillon Hargrove and Peaster moving to McCook this past season. For the Indians, Peaster was at a team-best 15.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.4 steals per game. He shot 50% from the field and had 10 20-point efforts. Subsequently, he was tabbed third-team All-Region IX, All-Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference (NCAC) and to the Omaha World-Herald’s All-State junior college squad.
“Madison is an all-around basketball player who brings aggressiveness and athleticism to the floor every time out. Both of Madison’s parents played college basketball and he has played at a very high level since he was young,” said Levinson. “We’re adding a defensive minded guard who is hungry to win and ready to re-unite with his teammates from their 2024 NJCAA D2 National Championship.”
Peaster prepped at Wilbur D. Mills University High in Little Rock and Arlington High in Memphis where he was part of state runner-up squads and helped AHS improve by 21 wins. Finally, the Memphis Commercial Appeal tabbed him as of its 2021 Elite Eight seniors.
Williams (6-5, 190 lbs.) is from the same hometown as Harrell but attended a different high school in Alpha Omega Academy. For the Lions, he scored well over 2,500 career points, won two state titles and had a 50-point game.
After spending his freshman season at Ranger College in Texas, he moved on to NAIA CBC in Conway, Ark. This past winter Williams was at 12.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game while starting 32 of 33 games. He helped CBC earn its first-ever at-large bid to the NAIA National Tournament thanks to 60 made threes. In a tourney loss to powerhouse Langston (Okla.), he scored a season-best 28 points. The Mustangs finished 27-6 and were co-champs of their conference with Williams tabbed second-team all-league and selected to the league all-tourney squad.
As a sophomore, he averaged 10.6 points for a CBC team that won 28 games and was the American Midwest Conference (AMC) regular season and tourney champs. They reached the NAIA Tourney second round with Williams named to the league all-academic team.
“Wade is a competitor and leader on the floor and will provide us with scoring and steadiness,” said Levinson. “Wade’s team at CBC went 55-13 and played in the NAIA National Tournament the last two years and he was a huge part of that success. His maturity and leadership will be immediately felt within our program.”
Brown (6-4, 190 lbs.) played for former Kansas Jayhawk great Sherron Collins at both Lawrence Free State (Kan.) and Oak Park High Schools. As a senior for the OPHS Northmen, Brown was at 12.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.6 steals per game. The squad went 31-1 and won the program’s first-ever Missouri Class 6 state title. Scoring over 1,000 points in his career, Brown also was part of a 27-5 team as a junior.
“Zeek brings a lot of intangibles to the basketball floor. Fresh off a Missouri High School state basketball championship he has a great basketball IQ and feel for the game. His versatility with his length and skill set allows him to play multiple positions and impact a game in a lot of ways,” said Levinson. “He is a coach’s son and knows exactly what it takes to be successful at this level. We are all excited to be a part of Zeek’s growth and development as we feel he can develop into a really good player.”
UNK won 12 games this past winter, earning the fifth seed in the MIAA Tournament, beating NCAA tournament qualifier Fort Hays State in the regular season finale and having 14 contests decided by eight points or less.
