With five Miami basketball players lost to the transfer portal, another five have big decisions to make regarding their future. Forwards Matthew Cleveland and Norchad Omier and guard Kyhsawn George, Nijel Pack and Wooga Poplar can return to Miami for next season or enter the NBA Draft or transfer portal.
It is unlikely all five players will return to Miami next season. Omier and Pack took part in Miami Basketball Senior Day last month. Omier and Pack each tested the NBA Draft last season before deciding to return to Miami. George is a consensus first-round pick via mock drafts, with some projections of having him in the lottery.
Poplar is a first-round pick in some NBA mock drafts. Cleveland, Omier and Pack are unlikely to be drafted. The question for Cleveland, Omier and Pack is how much they can improve their NBA Draft stock by returning to Miami or entering the transfer portal to find a program to help them develop their skills.
Cleveland, Omier and Pack are all with their second college basketball programs at Miami. Cleveland transfered to Miami during the 2023 offseason. Miami added Omier from Arkansas State and Pack via Kansas State during the 2022 offseasons. Omier and Pack were significant contributors to Miami's 2023 Final Four team.
During his presser today, Jim Larrañaga mentioned Sam Waardenburg returning for his sixth season and saying, basically, he couldn’t leave on a sour note. Wonder if potential pros Nijel Pack and Norchad Omier will think the same. https://t.co/fSesOo8ndM
— Adam Lichtenstein (@ABLichtenstein) March 18, 2024
Here are the key dates for the entire 2024 Draft process:
- April 27: NBA Early Entry Eligibility Deadline (11:59 p.m. ET)
- May 12: NBA Draft Lottery 2024 presented by State Farm
- May 13-19: NBA Combine (Chicago, IL)
- June 16: NBA Draft Early Entry Entrant Withdrawal Deadline (5 p.m. ET)
- June 26: NBA Draft 2024 presented by State Farm (First Round)
- June 27: NBA Draft 2024 presented by State Farm (Second Round) Courtesy NBA.Com
Players are allowed to enter the NBA Draft twice and withdraw. Omier and Pack failed to earn NBA Combine invites in 2023 after entering their names for the draft. Jim Larranaga and his staff are in a difficult position. Larranaga discussed Miami wants to add big men through the 2024 transfer portal.
The types of transfers that Miami will look for entering the 2024–25 season somewhat depend on the decisions of Cleveland, George, Omier, Pack and Poplar. Expect Miami to add a post player despite what Omier decides. Perimeter transfers are more uncertain depending on the decisions of Cleveland, Pack and Poplar.
Freshman Paul Djobet seems to be the only player on the 2023-24 Miami basketball roster guaranteed to return for the 2024-25 season. Miami signed the 12th-best 2024 class. Five-star guard Jahlil Bethea is the to player in the 2024 Miami class and is projected as a 2025 NBA Draft Lottery pick.
Miami also signed four-star prospects: sharp shooting guard Austin Swartz and versatile forward Isaiah Johnson-Arigu. The Miami roster could have a foundation returning for the 2024–25 season or could look almost completely different. The 2024–25 Miami roster will likely have some familiar faces returning.