Miami guard Wooga Poplar enters NCAA transfer portal

Miami starting guard Wooga Poplar has entered the NCAA transfer portal after three seasons with the Hurricanes, On3 has learned.

The Philadelphia native started all 29 games he played in last season, averaging 13.1 points per game.

Wooga Poplar was ranked as a four-star recruit and the No. 108 overall player in the country in the class of 2021, according to the On3 Industry rankings.

He was one of three Miami players to average at least 13 points per game last season, helping the Hurricanes to a 15-17 record.

Prior to coming to Miami, Poplar attended Math, Civics and Sciences Charter School, earning all-state honors three times.

As a freshman at Miami in 2021-22, Wooga Poplar played in 34 of 37 games, averaging 2.3 points and 1.4 rebounds per game.

He saw his role increase as a sophomore in 2022-23, playing in 37 games and making 36 starts, while helping the Hurricanes reach the Final Four. He averaged 8.4 points and 3.5 rebounds per game as a sophomore.

Poplar then moved into an even more prominent role this past season, but he is now off to the transfer portal. He scored in double figures in 21 of 29 games played in 2023-24, while missing a pair of games with an ankle injury.

Miami is coming off of a disappointing season last year, after the Hurricanes reached the Final Four in 2022-23.

Head coach Jim Larranaga expects his team to bounce back next season. The 74-year-old Larranaga is still confident in his coaching abilities and expects Miami to be much improved next year.

“I’ve said this way too many times, but when we were 100 percent healthy we were a very good basketball team,” Larranaga said after the season, according to CaneSport. “Injuries impacted us in a huge way. Second, our bench players were very inexperienced, younger guys who hadn’t been through the wars and weren’t able to help us overcome those injuries. … When there is no continuity in practice and preparation (due to injury) you lose a lot of close games, and we did.”

East Carolina transfer forward Brandon Johnson headed to Miami

While Miami lost Wooga Poplar to the transfer portal, the Hurricanes are bringing in some talent. That includes East Carolina transfer Brandon Johnson, who committed to Miami earlier this month.

The 6-foot-8 junior chose the Hurricanes over a final group of Louisville, Virginia Tech, Mississippi State, NC State, and Pitt.

Johnson averaged 14 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game this season for the Pirates.