ANALYSIS: With open spots, the Miami Hurricanes basketball team could find a land of opportunity in the transfer portal
With hundreds of names now entered and the 2022–2023 season behind us, the NCAA men’s basketball transfer portal is already in high gear. And it could provide the Miami Hurricanes, now with at least two open spots to chase transfers, an opportunity to gear up for a national championship run next season.
Thus far, the Hurricanes have already seen three portal departures from this year’s roster, with forwards Anthony Walker, Danilo Jovanovich, and center Favour Aire entering their names in the past week. Jordan Miller has graduated and is out of eligibility.
So that means Miami presently has room for four new players. Burlington, NC big man Michael Nwoku has already signed. Sources told CaneSport another scholarship is being held for a potential second high school player. That would leave the final two scholarships for transfer recruits with the possibility that more could become available if other current players enter the portal.
As of late, few teams have utilized the portal as well as Miami and head coach Jim Larranaga. Over the past two years, the Hurricanes have made history in back-to-back campaigns, owing in large part to transfers.
During their Elite Eight run during the 2021-2022 season, three of the Hurricanes’ five starters were transfers: Charlie Moore (DePaul), Kameron McGusty (Oklahoma), and Jordan Miller (George Mason). This year, transfers Nijel Pack (Kansas State) and Norchad Omier (Arkansas State), along with Miller, were instrumental parts of the Hurricanes’ success.
Moving forward, it is safe to assume Larranaga will continue to seek out the next wave of talent in this year’s portal. With new names entering the portal daily, we picked out nine of the top uncommitted players that might be an intriguing fit for the Hurricanes.
1. F, Jonathan Pierre, Nova Southeastern
One of Miami’s biggest tasks this offseason will be replacing forward Jordan Miller, who averaged 15.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game as the essential “glue guy” of the team. Although that will be difficult, the Hurricanes may find the perfect guy to fill the void left behind right in their own backyard.
Jonathan Pierre, a 6-foot-9 forward from Nova Southeastern in Fort Lauderdale, has heard from almost 80 colleges since he entered the transfer portal. Yes, you read that correctly—80 schools have reached out to the South Florida native, and for good reason.
The Hallandale Beach High School graduate helped lead the Sharks to an undefeated season and Division II national championship, averaging 14.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game while shooting 50.5% from the field and 40.5% from behind the arc. Miami, Duke, LSU, Missouri, Oklahoma, Memphis, and Arkansas are among the 80 schools that have reached out to Pierre.
2. C, Hunter Dickinson, Michigan
One glaring weakness for the Hurricanes this season was their lack of size and what better way to address it than by pursuing the top center and No. 1 overall prospect in the 2023 On3 Transfer Portal Rankings.
During the 2022-2023 season, the 7-foot-1, three-time All-Big Ten performer averaged 18.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game as a junior while shooting 56 percent from the field. Many predict Dickinson, a DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia) native, will return home to play for the University of Maryland and his former high school coach Mike Jones, who is now an assistant coach with the Terrapins. It wouldn’t hurt Miami to look into the skilled big man though.
3. C, Fardaws Aimaq, Texas Tech
Before transferring to Texas Tech, Fardaws Aimaq was one of the best stretch fives in the country, averaging 18.9 points and 13.6 rebounds per game while shooting 49% from the field and 43.5% from behind the arc at Utah Valley, where he was named the Western Athletic Conference’s Player of the Year in 2021.
This past season at Texas Tech, the 6-foot-11 big man was limited to playing only 11 games due to injuries and averaged 11.1 points and 7.9 rebounds. Aimaq is currently the No. 10 overall player in the 2023 On3 Transfer Portal Ranking.
4. F, Olivier Nkamhoua, Tennessee
Nkamhoua is one of the more popular names in this year’s portal, coming out of Tennessee. The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 10.8 points and 5 rebounds per game while shooting 51.3% from the field. The Finland native has been a reliable two-year starter for the Volunteers and scored a career-high 27 points against Duke in Tennessee’s win over the Blue Devils in the second round of this year’s NCAA Tournament.
5. F, Jalen Deloach, VCU
After averaging 9.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game, the former VCU Ram Jalen Deloach entered the transfer portal with two years of eligibility remaining. The 6-foot-9, 215-pound forward recently released his top six schools, which included FSU, San Diego State, VCU, Indiana, Penn State, and Miami.
6. F, Myles Stute, Vanderbilt
The Washington, DC, native averaged just over eight points a game his last two seasons and is known for his three-point shooting ability. As a sophomore, the 6-foot-7, 215-pounder led the SEC, shooting 43.2% from three, but he regressed in 2022–2023, shooting 36% from behind the arc. According to On3’s Joe Tipton, Stute has heard from the likes of Arkansas, Ole Miss, NC State, Georgia, Nebraska, and Miami, among others, since entering the portal.
7. F, John Hugley IV, Pittsburgh
The 6-foot-9, 265-pounder was the Panthers’ leading scorer and rebounder heading into this season (14.8 PTS, 7.9 REB per game) before deciding to sit out the remainder of the year to focus on his mental health. Hugley will have three years of eligibility remaining and has heard from the likes of Oregon, Rutgers, Xavier, Maryland, Arkansas, Wisconsin, and Miami.
8. F, Darrion Williams, Nevada
At Nevada this past season, the 6-foot-6 forward started 30 out of 33 games for the Wolfpack and averaged 7.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game. The former Nevada Gatorade Player of the Year has three years of eligibility left and is a clean shooter from distance who will crash the glass and end possessions on the defensive end.
9. G Damian Dunn, Temple
The 6-foot-5, 195-pounder averaged 15.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game for the Owls, who finished 16-16 this season. Since entering the portal, Dunn has heard from the likes of Gonzaga, Clemson, Maryland, Pitt, NC State, Miami, and others.
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