Former Kansas State Guard Nigel BuckHe told ESPN, which is the best transfer available in the portal, to stick with Miami.
Buck chose Hurricanes over Ohio and Purdue, which he’s all visited in recent weeks.
The Coach L method. [Jim Larranaga] Allowing his players to play freely and get up and down the floor with an NBA-style attack, I feel I can thrive on his program,” Buck said. Miami felt like home to me and my family, and I’m looking forward to building an Elite Eight race last year.”
The 6-foot-tall Pack guard from Indianapolis was the best transfer left in the gate, according to ESPN’s transfer ratings.
Buck left Kansas State two weeks after Bruce Webber stepped down as Wildcats coach and replaced him with longtime Baylor assistant Jerome Tang.
“For me, the biggest factor in making a decision about school was being able to play with the ball and show the NBA teams that I’m a real goalkeeper,” Buck said. “I wanted to have a chance where I play my normal stance most of the time.”
He led Kansas State in scoring last season, averaging 17.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists, while firing 43.6% from a 3-point range. He scored more than 30 points on three occasions, including 35 against Kansas in January.
The Pack earned All-Big 12 Honors and was named the league’s Most Improved Player after leading the league by 3 points and 3 throws per game.
His ability to execute a dribble almost instantly when crossing half the field with a quick, blistering shot made him one of the toughest players to guard in the Big 12. He’s also an uphill force that shoots off screens.
“Nigel is a huge addition to our team,” Laranaga said. “He truly is one of the best players in the country, plus he is an excellent young man with an elite work ethic and loves basketball. Nijel is not only a top-ranking goalscorer with great shooting ability but also a great playmaker and defender. We are delighted to welcome Nijel and his family to Miami’s basketball program” .
Miami is nearing its best season in program history, winning 26 games and making an elite eighth seed 10 with victories over USC, Auburn and Iowa State. The team played unique style with five bowlers on the floor for extended periods and no real big man, which proved to be a tough game for opponents all season. hurricane scorer, Cam McGesteestarting point guard Charlie MooreBoth are out of college eligibility, and ranked second in the scorer Isaiah Wong It tests the waters of the NBA’s drag, which presents a great opportunity for the Pack to step in.
Larranaga had great success with smaller point guards in the Pack mold, helping 5-11 Shane Larkin become the 18th pick in the NBA Draft, as Angel Rodriguez became a 5-11 All-ACC player after also moving from Kansas State and taking the Program to new heights under Moore, who is also 5-11. Buck says he hopes to become the next in the line of smaller Guardians to achieve success in South Florida.
“Charlie Moore and Shane Larkin are great examples of what Coach L can achieve with goalkeepers like me,” he said.
Pack entered his name in the 2022 NBA Draft and says he will continue to explore his NBA options while maintaining his college eligibility.
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