Miami basketball center Nysier Brooks adds new dimension in 2020-21

The addition of center Nysier Brooks who transferred to the Miami basketball program from Cincinnati will add a different dimension to the Hurricanes rotation in 2020-21 according to head coach Jim Larranaga.

The addition of center Nysier Brooks to the Miami basketball program as a transfer from Cincinnati adds depth, athleticism and shot-blocking to a Hurricanes team that needed more size in the frontcourt. Brooks played three seasons at Cincinnati averaging 8.3 points per game, 6.5 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and shot 53.5 percent.

Miami loses reliable forward Keith Stone in the post, but returns starting center senior Rodney Miller, redshirt junior forward Sam Waardenburg and the return of redshirt junior forward Deng Gak. As a team, Miami finished 92nd nationally in blocked shots in 2019-20, led by Waardenburg who averaged 1.1 BPG.

Brooks should up that dimension and make Miami a better team. Getting healthy will also be critical for the Hurricanes. Gak has missed the majority of the last two seasons with knee injuries. When healthy Gak gives Miami an athletic big who can run the floor, rebound and also be a presence in the low post defensively.

Offensively, Larranaga is excited about the possibility of Brooks and Miller playing together. After redshirting in 2018-19, Miller started in 28 of the 30 games he played in during the 2019-20 season. Miller averaged 7.2 PPG, 5.5 RPG and shot 57.5 percent from the floor while averaging 24.1 minutes per game.

"“He adds an entirely different dimension because he’s a combination of Tonye Jakiri and Reggie Johnson. He can do the things defensively that Tonye could do, but he can do the things Reggie could do and so I’m looking at is as Reggie and Julian Gamble gave us a one-two punch in the post that we haven’t had since they graduated.Now, we’ll have Nysier and Miller, who made tremendous strides. If they can play together like Reggie and Julian did, we can have a heck of a post position.”"

Larranaga compared Brooks and Miller to Jakiri, Johnson and Gamble who were all on Miami’s 2013 double ACC Championship team in 2013. Jakiri had a bigger presence as the Hurricanes advanced to their second Sweet 16 in four seasons in 2016. Gamble, Johnson and Kenny Kadji manned the post for Miami in 2012-13.

Speaking with Michelle Kaufman of the Miami Herald, Larranaga laid out what to expect from the Miami basketball team in 2020-21 if they can stay healthy. With the return of guard Chris Lykes, Isaiah Wong, Kameron McGusty and Harlond Beverly, Miami is still likely to be a perimeter-oriented team.

Gamble averaged 6.5 PPG, 4.9 RPG,1.8 BPG and shot 57.6 percent from the floor on the most accomplished team in Miami history. Johnson averaged 6.7 PPG and gave Miami a big presence on the boards averaging 7.0 RPG. Gamble, Jakiri, Johnson and Kadji gave the 2012-13 Hurricanes four players 6’10 or taller.

Brooks, Gak, Miller and Waardenburg give Miami a quartet of 6’10 or taller players for the 2020-21 season. The decision for Larranaga and his staff will be how much playing time they should have. To get the five most talented players on the floor, Miami is still going to have to go small.

The luxury next season will be that if healthy, at least Miami can choose to mix and match lineups out of choice over necessity. The outlook for the 2020-21 Miami basketball season with the addition of incoming freshmen Matt Cross and Earl Timberlake is that the Hurricanes will have their best team in three seasons.