Miami basketball still a winner after NBA draft early entry deadline

In spite of the losses of Bruce Brown and Lonnie Walker as early entrants to the NBA Draft, the Miami basketball program were still winners after the deadline last night.

The addition of three transfers and return of Dewan Huell gives the Miami Hurricanes a good roster for next season and beyond. Brown and Walker’s departures opened up two spots on the Miami basketball roster and Head Coach Jim Larranaga did a great job restocking the roster.

Miami also had to make up for not signing any Freshmen or Junior College transferred because of their alleged involvement in the FBI Scandal.

The Miami basketball program was eventually cleared of any wrongdoing in the FBI case involving Addidas but it was too late for this year’s recruiting class. With Brown and Walker moving on and no Freshman coming in, Larranaga turned to the transfer market.

Miami basically got three for two with the transfers they signed. Zach Johnson comes over from Florida Gulf Coast where he was their second-leading scorer last season. He played in the NCAA Tournament with the Eagles in 2016 and 2017.

CBSSports in their analysis of the schools that lost players early to the draft did not consider the losses of Brown and Walker devastating because they were expected. CBS’ Matt Norlander said:

"“Miami, which is obviously hurt with the losses of Lonnie Walker and Bruce Brown, but those two were thought to be gone after this season to start with."

Johnson and Huell were high school teammates at Miami Norland. As a graduate transfer, he is eligible immediately and should start.