Omaha Bryan Shootout - 5 Takeaways

The 2021 Omaha Bryan Shootout took place this past weekend, with Omaha South claiming the championship over Omaha Concordia 74-62. Here are a few key takeaways from the weekend.

Nebraska isn't short on 3 point shooters

This past weekend, there were a few players who repeatedly torched defenses with their 3 point capabilities. The best single-game performance of the weekend might have to go to 2023 Millard South Guard Trey Moseman, who hit 10 three-pointers in a 55-40 win over Millard West. Another notable performance was from 2025 Lincoln Southwest guard Chuck Love, who shot the ball tremendously well all weekend long in his first varsity action. Love is a name to really watch for in the future, as his name will likely be near the top of the 2025 rankings. 2022 Omaha Central G Jayden Dawson lit up the nets as well, effortlessly hitting shot after shot. More on him later. 2022 guards Karsten Mathsen and Zac Kulus (Omaha Concordia) and Zander Beard (Lincoln Northeast) both shot the ball very well too, along with 2023 Millard West G Cole Kirschner.

Omaha South will be much improved this season

Omaha South was a very young team last year, as they returned no seniors from the previous year, and started 2 sophomores as well as a freshman. They finished the season with a 4-16 record, and a 59-44 loss to Lincoln Pius X in round 1 of Districts. The skill level was not lacking, experience was the main factor. But this year, the Packers look a little different. Now they have more experience under their belt and have gained some impact transfers. 2022 guard Jojo Foard really stood out this weekend for South. He transfers in from Omaha Northwest, where he didn't see the court last year. Foard was one of the best players I saw all weekend. He ran the show for Omaha South, whether it was getting into the lane and distributing to open teammates. His skill level and IQ are very high, especially with his ball-handling. He handled defensive pressure with ease and got to the rim or the free throw line consistently. He was aggressive on defense and caused many turnovers which lead into fast break buckets. Foard looks ready to showcase his talents after a quiet first few high school seasons. 2023 T'Andre Perkins was also a big piece of Omaha South's championship run. He transfers in from Omaha North. Perkins gives the Packers a much-needed post presence with the departure of Jacob Arop. Perkins played a good pick-and-roll game and rebounded well.

Jayden Dawson continues to dominate

2022 Omaha Central guard Jayden Dawson's scoring ability is lethal, as he will give buckets to anyone and everyone. He did a lot of that this weekend, as he consistently hit tough shot after tough shot. (The picture above is a good indicator of the type of defense you can expect teams to play on him this upcoming winter.) Dawson added a ton of bounce since the end of his junior year that saw Omaha Central narrowly miss out on state with a District Championship loss to Papillion-La Vista South, along with some other upsets that affected wildcard point standings. Dawson will now attempt (ad usually make) vicious dunk attempts on anybody on the court. He has a really nice hesitation, which either leads to a pull-up jumper, or a hard attack at the basket. Dawson will be the go-to guy for the Eagles this Winter, but he won't be the only piece they have. 2022 G PJ Davis brings some good shooting and finishing ability to the table. 2022 Omaha South transfer Zion Bang-Hendon gives Central some needed size and rebounding ability as well.

Lincoln-Area Schools on the rise

All 3 Lincoln schools had some standout players this weekend at the shootout. Lincoln Southwest was a team I was a fan of last year, but multiple injuries to key players gave them some trouble. This year, they return a good core group, as well as add some new talent. 2022 G Grant Mielak shoots the ball well for the Silverhawks, but he was also one of their best rebounders this weekend. 2024 G Bahn Boum brings a good scoring ability to the table as well as some good length. He's a good 2 way player for the Silverhawks. 2025 G Chuck Love looked very good in his first varsity action, shooting the ball very well from all over the court, especially from beyond the arc. 2023 guard Lukas Helms scored well for Southwest as well as impacting many other aspects. For Lincoln Southeast, 2023 forward Wade Voss played really well all around for the Knights. He's a strong post player who can finish well above the rim. 2024 guard Taye Moore was Southeast's primary ball handler, and played his role well. He used quick handles and good quickness to get to the rim and draw contact and finish, while also finding teammates for buckets. And for Lincoln Northeast, 2022 guard Zander Beard was a nightmare for defenders. He has an amazing jab step that frees up a lot of space, which he can usually convert for an open 3. 2023 guard Porter Bazil is a good mix of size and shooting ability, as he knocked in 3's consistently. He can attack a hard closeout as well.

Omaha Concordia will be a top C1 team next year

Omaha Concordia was 2 points away from a state championship appearance last year, and they bring back a really good group of players for next year. 2022 guard Karsten Mathsen had the offense run through him a lot of the time, and it worked well. He hit some really difficult shots and was red hot a few times throughout their runner-up finish this weekend. 2022 guard Zac Kulus was efficient with his scoring as well as rebounding the ball well. 2022 forward Justin Otten was on the receiving end of some really good high-low passes, which turned into tough finishes at the rim, a lot of the time through contact. Otten was one of the top post players I saw this weekend. Concordia is a well-coached team who can really go far next season.