The college basketball revolving door is spinning faster than ever with the continued explosion of the transfer portal, and coaches’ heads are spinning, too.
University of Miami coaches Katie Meier and Jim Larranaga, coming off historic NCAA Tournament runs, have had little time to rest as they try to figure out who on their roster is staying, who is transferring and, as a result, which incoming transfers to add to the team.
On the men’s side, the biggest question is whether ACC Player of the Year Isaiah Wong will enter his name in the NBA Draft or return for a fifth and final year of eligibility. Wong tested the NBA waters the past two springs, and both times chose to return.
“Isaiah’s dream is to play in the NBA,” Larranaga said at the team’s post-season media session on Monday. “I don’t think he knows quite yet what the ultimate decision will be. Of course, we’d love to have him back because he’s a terrific player. I love coaching him. But he has to do what’s best for him.”
Last year, UM was one of a handful of schools that had no players transfer out. This spring, despite reaching the Final Four, four players are opting to transfer: little-used freshmen Favour Aire and Danilo Jovanovich, fifth-year forward Anthony Walker, and guard Harlond Beverly, whom Larranaga confirmed added his name to the portal on Monday.
On the women’s side, there is a double question mark. Haley and Hanna Cavinder, the TikToking twin guards, may not be back for their final year of eligibility. They have been contemplating their future since the Hurricanes reached the Elite Eight; and Meier said she expects a decision sometime this week.
“There’s a very interesting decision to make because they can do really, really well,” Meier said, referring to the twins’ financial opportunities. “I don’t know the answer yet. I think it’s pretty imminent. I think we’ll find out this week.”
In an interview last month on the “BFFs” podcast with Barstool’s Dave Portnoy, Haley Cavinder said she wanted to stay at UM for her fifth season, but Hanna was unsure. Among their options, getting more involved with pro wrestling, as they have an NIL deal with WWE and know of the popularity of the Bella Twins.
“I just like to hoop, so I was like, `I want to come back for a fifth year,’ but Hanna was more like `I want to start my life,” Haley Cavinder said. She added that they “don’t want to split up” their brand and marketing opportunities, as they have made more than $1 million in NIL sponsorships as The Cavinder Twins.
Meier and Larranaga agreed it is challenging to navigate the new world of college basketball.
“There’s a lot of flux,” Meier said. “Thirty years of coaching, never seen anything like it. It’s incredible. That’s the nature of the sport right now. And the timing. Everything is imminent. There’s a lot of shuffling going on.”
Asked to assess next year’s team, Larranaga said: “We just don’t know. There are too many options and too many question marks to know exactly. It will start to clear up in another week or so because there’s 1,380 kids in the portal. Things change every single day.”
He said he laughed when he saw Instagram posts ranking UM No. 2 and No. 3 in early preseason polls for next season. “I’m like, Holy Christmas. I don’t even know who we’re going to have and these guys think they can pick us top 10 in the country?’’
One thing he knows for sure is they are losing graduating senior Jordan Miller and Anthony Walker. “That’s over 40 minutes of playing time available at the four spot,” Larranaga said. “Without naming any names, our coaches have to be very active in the portal at looking for a four man.”
He figures they will add two transfers to the existing squad “and they will have to battle for playing time, like everyone else.”
Among the key players expected to return are Nijel Pack, Norchad Omier, Wooga Poplar and Bensley Joseph. There had been whispers that Joseph would consider transferring if he felt he couldn’t play a bigger role with the Hurricanes.
“With Wooga and Bensley, we have two veteran players going into their junior year who we’re going to count on tremendously next season,” Larranaga said. “I hope everyone comes back who can, keeping my fingers crossed. Bensley has been a terrific leader, defender, is a very good spot-up three point shooter and he’s got a great role on the team. I consider him a starter in terms of minutes played and what we count on him for.”
Larranaga also has high hopes for incoming Canadian freshman Michael Nwoko.
“I never think we can know for sure what kind of contribution a young man can make as a freshman, but I will say this: Michael Nwoko is 6-10, 240 lbs. He’s very physically mature. And he’s competed at a high level,” Larranaga said. “At the Nike Hoop Summit last week, he went 7 of 10 from the field. Those are indications that he might be ready to contribute mightily as a freshman. But you don’t know until they get on the court with your players.”
Omier, who transferred to UM from Arkansas State last spring, was asked what advice he would offer incoming transfers. He smiled and said: “You’re not going to regret it. Great spot. Coaches get you right. Family environment. You can’t go wrong with Miami.”
