Miami basketball has had complete transfer portal turnaround
The Miami basketball program adding wing Jordan Miller and point guard Charlie Moore through the transfer portal helped lead the Hurricanes to the NCAA Regional Final for the first time in program history. Miller and Moore helped Miami overcome losing five players to the 2021 transfer portal.
Miami has been able to overcome losing any players to the transfer portal during the 2022 offseason. The Hurricanes signed two of the best transfers for the 2022-23 season. Point guard Nijel Pack from Kansas State created a lot of attention nationally for the reported $800K two-year NIL deal he signed with Life Wallet.
Life Wallet is one of the companies of major Miami benefactor John Ruiz. Miami also signed 2021-22 Sun Belt Player of the Year Norchad Omier. Omier and Pack join the 23rd ranked 2022 freshman class Miami signed. Jim Larranaga has maintained roster stability for Miami entering 2022-23 while only losing expected graduates.
Guards Kameron McGusty, Moore and post Sam Waardenburg are the only losses from the main rotation for Miami in 2021-22. Backup post Deng Gak also decided to move on and pursue professional opportunities. If wing Isaiah Wong decides to forego the NBA Draft and return, Miami will have a full roster.
Wong entered the NBA Draft earlier this spring with the possibility of returning to Miami for his fourth season. After not being invited to the NBA Combine that concluded in Chicago on Sunday, Wong will likely return next season. Miami is positioned to have its best regular season since 2017-18 this upcoming year.
After lacking size the last four seasons, all four of the 2022 freshmen signees plus Omier are 6’6 or taller. Pack will provide Miami with more of a scoring point guard than Moore who was a traditional lead that facilitated. Omier gives Miami its first blue-chip low post scorer since Dewan Hernandez in 2018.
Larranaga has been ahead of the curve adding transfers to improve the roster. All three of the Miami teams to reach at least the regional semifinals in the NCAA Tournament under Larranaga have featured transfers as a vital part of the rotation. Point guards Shane Larkin, Angel Rodriquez and Moore were all transfers.
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McGusty originally transferred to Miami during the 2018 offseason. Sheldon McClellan was part of an all-transfer backcourt with Rodriguez on the 2016 team that reached the Sweet 16. Expect Miami to continue to be active in the transfer with the backing they have received for athletes securing Name, Image and Likeness deals.