Nijel Pack returning for final year with Miami hoops: "Focus is on getting healthy and leading our team to compete at the highest level"
Miami Hurricanes guard Nijel Pack, whose junior year was beset by injuries that cost him seven games, announced Thursday morning that he is returning to UM for his senior year.
“I am back!” Pack posted through UM, adding “Going into my final season, my focus is on getting healthy and leading our team to compete at the highest level in every aspect of the game, every day.”
Pack finished this past season averaging 13.3 points per game and 3.6 assists but was unable to build on his prior season in which he averaged 13.6 points with 2.3 assists. His shooting percentage was 44.1 percent a year ago with 40.4 percent from long range; this past season it dropped to 40.0 percent overall and 35.7 percent from three-point range. Pack could play the 1 or 2, although the Canes have been utilizing him mainly as a point guard.
“We are very excited to have Nijel back in a Miami uniform,” head coach Jim Larrañaga said. “He is one of the top guards in the country and has been an instrumental part of our program over the last two seasons. We are looking forward to having his leadership and experience on the team for another year and know he will help bring the program to new heights.”
Pack withdrew his name from the NBA Draft a year ago in order to return to Miami, but this year he won’t even test the pro waters, good news for a team that’s already lost five players to the portal and has uncertainty surrounding the potential return of big man Norchad Omier (17.0 PPG, 10.0 RPG), Wooga Poplar (13.1 PPG), Matthew Cleveland (FSU transfer averaged 13.7 PPG) and standout first year player Kyshawn George (started 16 games, averaged 7.6 PPG).
Already announcing their transfers out of Miami were Christian Watson, Bensley Joseph, Jakai Robinson, Michael Nwoko and AJ Casey.
Helping the rebuild process: The team has a trio of very talented incoming freshmen in five-star Jalil Bethea, Austin Swartz and Isaiah Johnson-Arigu. Coach Jim Larranaga and his staff are expected to be heavily involved in trying to lure transfer portal talent to supplement the team off a disappointing 15-17 season (6-14 ACC).
