The Miami basketball transfer class of point guard Nijel Pack and power forward Norchad Omier was ranked seventh nationally by 247 Sports. The Miami class of only Omier and Pack is smaller than most other programs. With few scholarships open, Jim Larranaga and his staff were able to zero on exactly who they wanted.
Omier will provide Miami with a strong post presence they did not have last season. As the Sun Belt Player of the Year in 2021-22, Omier averaged 17.9 points per game, 12.2 rebounds, which was fourth nationally and shot 63.2 percent from the floor. Omier only had only six three-point attempts in two seasons at Arkansas State.
Omier will provide the Miami basketball team with a completely different player in the post than Sam Waardenburg did. Waardenburg averaged 4.3 rebounds this past season. As a stretch four playing center, Waardenburg was frequently away from the low post. Omier will have more rebounding opportunities.
Miami signed an outstanding point guard for the second consecutive season with Pack. Charlie Moore transferred to Miami from DePaul during the 2021 offseason. Moore was the catalyst for Miami in their run to the NCAA Tournament Regional Finals for the first time in program history.
What Coach L had to say about Nijel Pack, who was rated the second-best player in the transfer portal according to ESPN & The Athletic ⬇️
— Canes Men’s Basketball (@CanesHoops) April 24, 2022
More on Pack: https://t.co/ZlMGw2Kcoj pic.twitter.com/zhr30Qy5c1
"T-7. MIAMI“Kansas State transfer Nijel Pack checks in at No. 6 while reigning Sun Belt Player of the Year Norchad Omier is No. 39. So yeah, Miami got two absolute game-changers in the transfer portal. Pack averaged 17.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists this past season for Kansas State. He drained 95 3-pointers.Pack shot 44.4 percent on 3-pointers that came off screens which ranked in the 85th percentile, according to Synergy Sports. But he wants to play point guard, and Miami can let him handle the rock. Omier was a double-double machine at Arkansas State.He’s one of the best defensive players in the transfer portal, and he’s going to be a no-doubt, Day 1 starter for the Hurricanes. Omier, Pack and Isaiah Wong is one heck of a three-headed monster.”"
Moore was a traditional point guard who looked to facilitate for his teammates first. Pack is a scoring point guard. At Kansas State, Pack often played off-guard during the 2021-22 season. The opportunity to play point guard which is the position he would play in the NBA is part of the reason Pack chose Miami.
The potential return of Isaiah Wong who declared for the NBA Draft with the possibility of coming back next season could provide Miami with one of the best scoring point guards nationally. Omier will allow Miami to be less dependent on perimeter scoring. Miami should contend in the ACC again in the 2021-22 season.