The Miami basketball program will find out on Saturday afternoon if they will gain a commitment from Kansas State transfer point guard Nijel Pack. Miami is hoping to add an experienced guard and frontcourt player through the transfer portal. The Hurricanes lost four players after their run to the Midwest Regional final in March.
Pack will have two years of eligibility remaining. In two seasons at Kansas State, Pack averaged 15.3 points per game, 3.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.3 steals. Pack is a 44.4 percent shooter from the floor, 42.3 percent on three-point shots and 82.9 percent from the free-throw line. Pack wants to play point guard.
After primarily playing point guard for Kansas State as a freshman in 2020-21 he played both spots in the backcourt in 2021-22. Miami lost point guard Charlie Moore and leading scorer Kameron McGusty from its backcourt from last season. Isaiah Wong is evaluating what he will do for next season.
The 247 Sports scouting report for Pack stated he is a “great shooter with range.” One of the weaknesses for Miami this past season was three-point shooting. Miami shot 33.9 percent on three-point attempts during the 2021-22 season. The Hurricanes ranked 183rd nationally in three-point percentage.
College commitment @ 3:30 tomorrow!!
— Nijel 🅿️ack (@NijelPack24) April 22, 2022
Pack took visits to Ohio State and Purdue as well as Miami. A report from freelance basketball writer Marc Fiscarelli reported on Friday afternoon “Per a source, Kansas State guard Nijel Pack is locked in on joining the Miami Hurricanes, expect a commitment tomorrow.” Averaged 17/3/2 in the Big 12.”
Pack would come in and be an immediate starter for Miami in the backcourt. Depending on what Wong decides, rising sophomores Bensley Joseph and Wooga Poplar, rising fourth-year redshirt sophomore Harlond Beverly and potentially rising redshirt freshman Jakai Robinson will compete to start in the Miami backcourt.
Miami returns rising fifth-year senior Jordan Miller on the wing and Anthony Walker up front as the likely starters. The expectation of a transfer center or forward could give the Miami basketball team a more traditional lineup in 2022-23. Miller is the ideal win who can rebound and handle the ball.