Nijel Pack to withdraw from 2023 NBA Draft, return to Miami

Fresh off a Final Four appearance, Miami is set to get a big piece back. Nijel Pack is withdrawing from the 2023 NBA Draft, the Hurricanes announced Friday.

Pack played a key role for Miami last season after transferring from Kansas State. He averaged 13.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game while shooting 44.1% from the field. His biggest game came at a good time as he dropped 26 points to help lead the Hurricanes past No. 1 seed Houston in the Sweet Sixteen.

Now, he joins teammate Norchad Omier by returning to Miami to try and run it back in 2023-24. Omier announced his decision Friday morning.

Unfinished business.

Nijel Pack is BACK.@NijelPack24 🙌 pic.twitter.com/WcasxdHJCi

— Canes Men’s Basketball (@CanesHoops) May 19, 2023

“We are thrilled Nijel and Norchad have elected to return to Miami. They are both not only excellent players, but also superb individuals off the court,” coach Jim Larranaga said in a statement. “They gained valuable feedback from NBA personnel during the pre-draft process that will aid them moving forward. We will continue to do all we can to help them further develop as they pursue their dreams of playing at the next level.”

Pack and Omier’s decisions aren’t necessarily unexpected. Larranaga previously detailed conversations he had with the two that indicated a return could be in the cards. Although Miami is still awaiting a decision from Wooga Poplar, Larranaga also expects him back.

“I’ve had discussions with all of them,” Larranaga said last month. “And I will say, I’m counting on them for next year. Conversations with players today, you can’t predict anything. I think those guys are planning to come back. Who the heck knows in today’s college basketball world?”

More on the 2023 NBA Draft

The 2023 NBA Draft is set to take place on Thursday, June 22, 2023, in Brooklyn at Barclays Center. Round 1 of the draft will be announced by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, while Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum is expected to handle the second round of picks.

To be eligible for the NBA Draft, players must be at least 19 years in age during the calendar year that the draft is held and at least one NBA season from their high school graduation date, or the date that would have been if they are not graduated. It is not required that player spend that one year playing college basketball, though. Players can play in either college, abroad, or the G League Ignite if they choose so.

While this is a significant change from what the rules once were, players are eligible to enter their names into the NBA Draft pool and explore their options by hiring an agent to go through the process, while still keeping their college eligibility. The deadline to make that move was on April 23 beginning at 11:59 p.m. ET. Players have until June 12 at 5 p.m. ET to withdraw their name from the pool and return to college.

The NBA Draft Lottery was held on May 16, which is also the start of the NBA Conference Finals.