Kansas State transfer Nijel Pack signs with UM, inks NIL deal worth estimated $800,000
The future of the University of Miami men’s basketball program looks bright after landing one of the nation’s top transfers and being named a finalist for another highly-coveted player.
All Big 12 guard Nijel Pack, a transfer from Kansas State, announced Saturday afternoon that he chose UM over his two other finalists, Ohio State and Purdue. He averaged 17.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists last season.
A 6-foot, 180-pound guard with three years of eligibility remaining, Pack is rated the second-best player in the transfer portal according to both ESPN and The Athletic, as well as third-best by 247Sports. Shortly after his signing was announced, Life Wallet owner John H. Ruiz posted on Twitter that his company had inked Pack to an $800,000 NIL deal that includes a new car. It is the biggest NIL offer so far from Ruiz, whose deals with UM athletes are resulting in national publicity for his digital health care business that was launched in January.
“Nijel is a tremendous addition to our team. He is truly one of the finest players in the country, as well as an excellent young man with an elite work ethic who loves basketball,” Larrañaga said. “Nijel is not only a high-level scorer with elite shooting abilities, but also a superb playmaker and defender. We’re thrilled to welcome Nijel and his family into the Miami basketball program.”
Pack, an Indianapolis native, shot 45.5 percent from the floor, including a blistering 43.6 percent beyond the arc, and 84.5 percent at the line.
“I’m on to the next chapter in my career,” Pack wrote on Instagram. “I want to thank Coach Jim Larranaga for this opportunity. As a sports fan, I’ve seen the power of THE U and the passion of this fan base. It’s a privilege to hep lead this team this coming season! I’m going to `THE U’”
Larrañaga, known for his success with transfers, was looking to replace Charlie Moore, Sam Waardenburg and Kam McGusty, all of whom are departing after leading the Canes to the Elite Eight. Pack should be able to step right into the starting lineup.
Miami is also a finalist for Arkansas State forward Norchad Omier, a native of Nicaragua who attended Miami Prep school. Omier’s final four are UM, Florida State, Texas Tech and Georgetown. He is expected to announce after visiting Georgetown late next week.
In other UM basketball news, Larranaga hired Charlotte’s Kotie Kimble to be his third assistant, multiple sources confirmed. An announcement is expected in the next few days.
Kimble fills the spot left vacant by longtime associate head coach Chris Caputo, who left to become head coach at George Washington University. Kimble joins Bill Courtney and DJ Irving on the Hurricanes staff. Courtney is the senior assistant and offensive coordinator, so it is possible he will be promoted to associate.
Kimble spent five years on the Charlotte 49ers staff and played a major role in helping that school sign the top-ranked recruiting class in Conference USA in each of the last four years. In 2020, he was named one of the Top Assistant Coaches in Conference USA by Stadium and Jeff Goodman.
Before joining Charlotte, he spent seven years as an assistant coach at William & Mary (2011-18), where the team posted three 20-win seasons while capturing the Colonial Athletic Association’s regular-season title in 2015 and reaching the CAA Tournament Championship game in 2014 and 2015.
This story was originally published April 23, 2022 at 11:55 AM.