New-look Hurricanes spending summer working on building team chemistry with 10 new players

CORAL GABLES — The Hurricanes basketball team taking part in summer workouts at the Watsco Center is wildly different than the one whose season ended at the ACC tournament in March.

Miami said goodbye to seven players to the transfer portal, including starters Norchad Omier and Wooga Poplar, and lost one-and-done guard Kyshawn Greorge to the NBA draft.

To replace them, the Hurricanes have 10 newcomers: four freshmen and six transfer additions. The key for the summer is getting those 10 new players to jell with the three returning players, Nijel Pack, Matthew Cleveland and Paul Djobet.

“We’ve had a really good summer. It’s been terrific,” assistant coach Kotie Kimble said. “You’re right, we have 10 new guys, which is a challenge in some ways. But they’ve been terrific. They’ve worked really hard. I think the biggest challenge is getting our guys connected. Like how well can we play together and play for one another. The more shared experiences that we have together, I think the better we’ll be.”

Kimble said in addition to practices, the team will likely have social events like going to Top Golf or having a pool party at head coach Jim Larrañaga’s house. He said the returning veterans have done a good job making sure the team does not sort itself into cliques.

“This has been such a terrific group,” Kimble said. “Nijel Pack, who’s in his third year with us, he’s a terrific leader. He’s been a part of a Final Four team. He’s really connected the team. Matt Cleveland, as well. They’ve done a good job off the court, making sure they’re hanging out together. Credit to our upperclassmen, they’ve been a big part.”

Several of the transfers will make immediate impacts and become opening-night starters. Most of them were starters at their previous schools. Transfers Lynn Kidd (Virginia Tech), forward Brandon Johnson (East Carolina) and guard Jalen Blackmon (Stetson) started every game their teams played last year. Guard A.J. Staton-McCray…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/look-hurricanes-spending-summer-working-183800633.html

Author : South Florida Sun Sentinel

Publish date : 2024-07-23 18:38:00

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