Oklahoma guard Nijel Pack receives medical waiver, cleared ahead of 2025-2026 season

Porter Moser made a big splash in the NCAA transfer portal this offseason, landing guard Nijel Pack from Miami. However, there was one hurdle to surpass before Pack could officially be a part of the Oklahoma program. A medical waiver was required to maintain eligibility after only playing nine games last season.

Thankfully, some good news came through on Tuesday. Pack’s waiver was approved for the 2025-2026 campaign, now becoming a big part of Oklahoma’s plans. A massive decision from the NCAA for the Sooners.

“Oklahoma’s Nijel Pack (foot) has received a medical waiver from the NCAA and is eligible and fully cleared for all basketball-related activities entering the 2025-26 season, per Porter Moser,” Jon Rothstein said via X.

Pack spent the first two seasons of his college career at Kansas State before hitting the open market. Miami was able to win his initial transfer portal recruitment, a big one at the time for head coach Jim Larranaga. However, Pack did not reach the peaks in Coral Gables as he did in his final go-round at Kansas State.

Over five years, Pack is averaging 14.3 points per game while shooting 43.3% from the field. Scoring is what Oklahoma will want from Pack, only grabbing 3.1 rebounds and dishing 3.0 assists every time out there throughout his career.

As a high school prospect, Pack was a four-star recruit who ranked No. 125 nationally in the 2020 class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

The On3 Transfer Portal Industry Rankings had Pack as a four-star prospect this cycle. He was the No. 43 overall player to enter the portal and No. 12 when just looking at the point guard position. What rankings cannot show is the experience he has in college basketball. And the Sooners definitely need some veteran players.

Pack joins an Oklahoma (20-14, 6-12 SEC) squad eager to bounce back from a difficult first season a part of the SEC, where the Sooners made the 2025 NCAA Tournament as a ninth seed but were quickly dispatched 67-59 in their opening-round game against eighth-seeded UConn.

As historic as the SEC was last year, the league should be at a similar competitiveness level moving forward. Oklahoma knows signing talented players is the only way to stay alive in the arms race. Mission accomplished by getting Pack and the waiver approval helps the move pay off.

On3’s Alex Byington contributed to this report