Miami basketball named transfer portal loser after key losses

Norchad Omier and Wooga Poplar were the two most important players Miami lost in the 2024 transfer portal. The departures of Omier and Poplar led Miami to be named a loser in the 2024 transfer portal cycle by CBS Sports. None of the Miami transfer additions are ranked as high as Omier and Poplar in the portal.

Omier led Miami in scoring and rebounding last season. Omier and Poplar were two-year starters for Miami. Miami added guard Jalen Blackmon from Stetson, center Lynn Kidd from Virginia Tech and forward Brandon Johnson from East Carolina as transfers. Omier and Poplar are both top 20 2024 transfers.

Omier is the fifth-ranked transfer and Poplar is 18th. Kidd is 83rd, Blackmon is 101st and CBS Sports' partner 247Sports does not rank Johnson in their "Final 2024 transfer portal rankings: Top 150 full of impact starters, future college basketball stars." Bensley Joseph who transferred from Miami to Providence is 127th in the rankings.

Miami also lost forward A.J. Casey, center Michael Nwoko, guard Jakai Robinson and forward 10th-rankedChristian Watson who were mostly seldom used reserves during the 2023-24 season. The Hurricane signed the 10th ranked 2024 class. That includes five-star guard Jalil Bethea.

"Loser: Miami's star power takes a hit
Miami stars Norchad Omier and Wooga Poplar entered the transfer portal less than a week before the transfer deadline. Omier was coming off a season in which he averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Poplar averaged 13.1 points. With star freshman Kyshawn George entering the draft, Miami (15-17 in 2023-24) will be without three of its top scorers heading into a new-look ACC. It's been 13 months since Miami made the Final Four, but a lot has changed. "

- Cameron Salerno, CBS Sports

Miami should have a deeper team in 2024-25, but losing Omier and Poplar are significant losses. The hope is that Kidd bringing more size to Miami and Blackmon as an elite scorer can make up the difference. Miami does return starters Matthew Cleveland and Nijel Pack, plus reserve Paul Djobet.

Blackmon finished 14th nationally in 2023-24, averaging 21.3 points per game. Blackmon scored 43 points in the Atlantic Sun Championship game. That helped Stetson earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament for the first time. Miami hosted former Texas five-star forward Dillon Mitchell on Thursday.