Revisiting Miami basketball’s NIL-fueled recruitment of Nijel Pack, Isaiah Wong, Norchad Omier
For only the second time in the program’s history, Miami’s men’s basketball team has made the Elite Eight – an achievement that is both the result of tremendous offseason recruiting efforts and the result of Jim Larrañaga’s coaching.
Two of the Hurricanes’ biggest contributors this season are Nijel Pack and Norchad Omier, who moved from the states of Kansas and Arkansas, respectively. Pack is third on the team with 13.8 points per game while Omier averages a double-double (13.3 points, 10.1 rebounds).
Even Isaiah Wong, a holdover from the 2021-22 team who leads the Hurricanes with 16.1 points per game, essentially had to be recruited to stay on after Pack’s arrival at Miami Gardens. Miami-linked billionaire John Ruiz, who has made the Hurricanes a NIL powerhouse, persuaded Wong to stay on the team.
This is the world of NIL-funded recruitment — one the Hurricanes have deftly navigated en route to another deep NCAA tournament run. It’s a controversial topic in esports, as recently retired Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim, among others, accused the Hurricanes of buying their players.
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“Pittsburgh bought a team. OK Good [big donor] talks about it, but he doesn’t give anyone any money. Nothing,” said Boeheim in February. “Not a single guy. Our boys make about $20,000. Wake Forest bought a team. Miami bought a team.”
Regardless, it’s undeniable that Miami’s investments in players — both on the court and at the NIL Arena — have paid off tremendously for the program.
The Sporting News revisits Miami’s NIL-fueled recruitment of Pack, Wong and Omier amid the team’s Elite Eight run.
Miami Basketball NIL Recruitment
Nijel package
Pack was the Hurricanes’ first major addition after their run to the Elite Eight in the 2022 NCAA tournament. He was the No. 4 transfer player on the NCAA portal after averaging 17.4 points per game for Kansas State in 2021-22.
Pack chose Miami over Ohio State and Purdue as announced by Ruiz on April 23, 2022. Announcing Pack’s transfer, LifeWallet’s CEO claimed that the player had signed a two-year, $800,000 deal with the company, which would also include a car:
Seven minutes after Ruiz’s announcement, Pack made the news official on Twitter:
However, Pack’s move to Miami nearly destroyed the Hurricanes’ roster.
MORE: Miami advances into Elite Eight after beating bottom 1-seeded Houston
Isaiah Wong
Within a week of Pack’s transfer to Miami, Wong’s agent – NEXT Sports Agency’s Adam Papas – said that his client would enter the transfer portal if his own NIL compensation has not been increased. Papas also brokered the deal that resulted in Pack moving to Miami.
“If Isaiah and his family don’t feel the NIL number meets their expectations, tomorrow they will enter the transfer portal while maintaining his eligibility for the NBA draft and going through the draft process,” Papas told ESPN.
“Isaiah would love to stay in Miami,” Papas added. “He had a great season guiding his team into the Elite Eight. He’s seen what new Miami Hurricane basketball players are getting at NIL and wants his NIL to reflect that he was a team leader on an Elite Eight team.”
At the time, Ruiz was reluctant to increase Wong’s NIL compensation, telling ESPN the rising senior and two-time All-ACC player was “under contract.”
“He was treated exceptionally well by LifeWallet. If he decides to[transfer]I wish him well, but I’m NOT renegotiating!” Ruiz told ESPN. “I can’t tell the amount, but what I can say is that he was treated very fairly.”
The following day, Wong issued a statement from his personal Twitter account distancing himself from Papas’ statement, which Wong said was made “without authorization”. He said at the time he had resolved the misunderstandings between himself and his family, LifeWallet and Miami and was happy to continue with his current business.
Earlier in the day, Ruiz said he will continue to work with Wong to earn more NIL deals – without increasing his compensation with LifeWallet:
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Norchad Omier
Ahead of Wong’s near-exit from Miami, the Hurricanes landed another significant transfer gain in Omier, Arkansas. Transferring to No. 29 in 2022, the Red Wolves averaged a double-double season in 2020-21 and 2021-22. Although his transfer was not publicly linked to a NIL deal, he was mentioned in it LifeWallet Sports Twitter account On Wednesday.
His On3 NIL profile values his current NIL deal at $165,000.