Miami basketball gains frontcourt stability with Norchad Omier return

The Miami basketball program gained stability for its frontcourt in 2023-24 with the return of forward Norchad Omier. Omier was the only true post player in the Miami rotation during the Hurricanes’ run to the 2023 Final Four. Omier will be joined by Florida State transfer Matthew Cleveland on the frontline.

In his first season with the Miami basketball team in 2022-23 Omier averaged 13.1 points per game, 10.0 rebounds per game and shot 57.4 percent from the field. News of Omier returning to Miami was reported by multiple outlets late on Thursday night. Miami is thin and young in the frontcourt behind Cleveland and Omier.

Miami returns 6’9 forward A.J. Casey and signed 6’10, 240-pound freshman Michael Nwoko who will be the primary backups in the frontcourt. Omier set a Miami NCAA Tournament record with 14 rebounds in the first-round win over Drake and exceeded that with 17 rebounds in the second-round victory over Indiana.

Omier will have to improve his all-around game to have a chance to make an NBA roster after his collegiate career concludes. At the NBA G League Elite Camp Omier measured 6.5.5 and 254 pounds. In his postseason press conference Miami head coach Jim Larranaga said Omier will work this summer to expand his offensive game.

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Guard Nijel Pack announced his return on Friday. Pack entered the NBA Draft but was not invited to the NBA G-League Elite camp that Omier participated in or the NBA Combine. Pack is not listed in the top 100 NBA Draft big board. The 2023 NBA Draft will have 58 selections with Chicago and Philadelphia forfeiting second-round picks.

The deadline to withdraw from the NBA Draft is March 31 at 11:59 PM. Miami could still add another transfer to improve its depth for the 2023-24 roster. With Jordan Miller and Isaiah Wong moving on to the NBA expect Omier to become a bigger part of the Miami offense in 2023-24.