Thursday was a tough day for ‘Canes Hoops. Within a matter of hours, core contributors Norchad Omier, Wooga Poplar, and Kyshawn George all announced their departure from Coral Gables.
Norchad Omier entered the NBA Draft last year, but withdrew from the draft after his good but not great performance at the NBA G League Elite Camp did not result in an invite to the NBA Draft Combine. Omier showed great improvement last year, particularly in his long-range shooting and ball handling, earning 2nd Team All ACC Honors. Omier again entered his name into the NBA Draft, but on Thursday also entered the transfer portal indicating his backup plan to the NBA this go-around is not returning to Miami.
Multiple sources tell me that Norchad Omier, who had entered NBA Draft, is also entering transfer portal as a backup plan. @MiamiHerald @HeraldSports @CanesHoops #GoCanes #TransferPortal
— Michelle Kaufman (@kaufsports) April 25, 2024
There were high expectations for Wooga Poplar, another Canes starter and arguably the most athletic player on the roster. Canes fans were looking to Wooga as the principal fill-in for 2022-23 ACC Player of the Year Isaiah Wong. Poplar’s play at times was promising, if not brilliant. But an ankle injury at the start of conference play led him to miss several games, and his rhythm never seemed off the rest of the season. Wooga’s failure to emerge undoubtedly contributed to Miami’s disappointing performance in conference play. Poplar announced on Thursday that he’s also entering the transfer portal.
NEWS: Miami guard Wooga Poplar has entered the transfer portal, a source tells @LeagueRDY.
Poplar is a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania who has spent the last three seasons at Miami. Started all 29 games played this season.
He averaged 13.1PPG, 4.8RPG and 2.1APG this… pic.twitter.com/eaehC6BlTA
— 24/7 High School Hoops (@247HSHoops) April 25, 2024
Finally, freshman Kyshawn George unsurprisingly announced that he’s entering the NBA Draft. Unlike Omier, George is hiring an agent foreclosing his return to college next year. George, a three-star prospect who was born in Switzerland and played high school ball in France, was one of the few bright spots for Miami last season. George entered the starting rotation mid-season and quickly built up his NBA draft stock and demonstrating that, despite last season’s shortcomings, Larrañaga and his staff can still recruit unheralded, off the grid talent and develop them into NBA-ready players. George is currently projected as a late-first round pick in the June draft.
NEWS: Miami freshman Kyshawn George, a projected first-round pick, told ESPN he is forgoing his remaining college eligibility, hiring an agent and submitted paperwork to become eligible for the 2024 NBA draft.
STORY: https://t.co/LQYt1lF6N2 pic.twitter.com/Uuxotqj27j
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) April 25, 2024
Omier, Poplar, and George join the previously announced departures of Bensley Joseph (transfer, Providence), AJ Casey (transfer, St. Louis), Michael Nwoko (transfer, Mississippi State), Jakai Robinson (transfer, unannounced), and Christian Watson (transfer, announced). That’s eight (!!) scholarship players who won’t return from last year’s team, just two year’s removed from an offseason when zero players transferred.
For what it’s worth, this likely ends the roster bleeding. Losing so many core contributors is alarming, but there’s still reason for optimism next season. Starters Nijel Pack and Matthew Cleveland have announced they’re returning next year to join five star recruit and McDonald’s All-American guard Jalil Bathea, Miami’s highest rated recruit in program history. Also expect Coach L to continue hitting the transfer portal – Miami’s already secured commitments from Virginia Tech center Lynn Kidd as well as East Carolina forward Brandon Johnson.