Miami Basketball Near Top in way-too-early ACC power rankings
The Miami basketball team is third, while "Duke, UNC headline way-too-early ACC basketball power rankings" posted by Isaac Trotter of 247Sports on Tuesday. Miami had a significant roster overhaul this spring. Guard Paul Djobet, Nijel Pack and forward Matthew Cleveland are the only players returning for Miami in 2024–25.
Miami lost seven players to the transfer portal and one to the NBA Draft following the 2023-24 season. Freshman guard Kyshawn George is projected to be a first-round pick in June. The most significant losses for Miami from the 2023-24 roster were guards Bensley Joseph and Wooga Poplar and forward Norchad Omier.
Pack who transferred to Miami in 2022, led the Hurricanes in assists per game last season but was hindered by injuries. Pack missed seven games during the 2023-24 season. Djobet averaged 2.4 points per game off the bench playing in 16 games. Cleveland had an inconsistent season for Miami after transferring from Florida State.
If Cleveland and Pack can regain consistency and stay healthy, Miami should have a redemptive season in 2024-25. Miami signed the ninth-best 2024 class and 35th transfer class. Miami should have a deeper rotation and more size in 2024-25 than they had this season.
"3. MIAMI
- Isaac Trotter, 247Sports
Projected starting lineup:
G Nijel Pack
G Jalil Bethea
Wing Matt Cleveland
F Brandon Johnson
C Lynn Kidd
Top bench options: G Jalen Blackmon, G Austin Swartz, F Kiree Huie, Wing Paul Djobet
The scoop: Miami's lack of depth and lack of size were a problem. Jim Larranaga has done good work to fix some of those holes. Losing Norchad Omier to Baylor is gutting, but a frontcourt trio of Matt Cleveland, Brandon Johnson and Lynn Kidd can be highly productive. Nijel Pack is also back for his fifth season of college basketball...Five-star freshman Jalil Bethea has a huge runway to be a stud, especially after Wooga Poplar's late decision to hit the transfer portal. Do not sleep on Stetson transfer Jalen Blackmon, either. That dude is a flamethrower. Miami still has three open scholarships to play around with, so this team has a chance to be so much more than a six-man band. "
Miami did a good job replacing Omier with Johnson, Kidd and Idaho State transfer Kiree Huie. It might take all three of them to replace Omier's numbers. Miami will be much bigger in the post in 2024-25 with Huie, Johnson and Kidd than they were with the 6'7 Omier. Larranaga stated Omier was closer to 6'5.5.
Larranaga will have a far more versatile roster in 2024-25. Miami can go small with Bethea, Blackmon and Pack or play a more traditional lineup with the starting five projected by Trotter. Blackmon scored 43 points in the Atlantic Sun Championship game to lead Stetson to the title and their first NCAA Tournament berth in program history.
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After an Elite Eight appearance in 2022 and a Final Four run in 2023, Miami was the most disappointing team in the ACC last season. Miami relied on transfers during the two deep tournament runs. The hope is that Blackmon, Huie, Johnson and Kidd can have similar impacts for Miami in their first season in 2024-25.