Oklahoma men’s basketball gets two for one with latest transfer portal addition

When he needs to make the most of every dollar, Porter Moser managed to solve two problems with one answer for the Oklahoma men's basketball team.

Former Miami (FL) point guard Nijel Pack announced Monday evening on social media that he committed to the Sooners out of the transfer portal. It was OU's second addition of the day and of the cycle after former Notre Dame forward Tae Davis also committed to the Sooners earlier that morning.

Nijel Pack transferring from Miami to Sooners for Porter Moser's second addition

The Sooners' biggest needs this offseason were size and talent down low to help OU hold its own in the physical SEC, which it struggled to do during its first season in the conference. Although the Sooners still need more big men, Davis was certainly a big step in getting them where they need to be before next season.

OU's other two major needs were a point guard to run the offense and a 3-point shooter. Freshman point guard Jeremiah Fears declared for the NBA Draft after just one season at OU, leaving a star-shaped hole for the Sooners.

The Sooners also lost 3-point specialist Brycen Goodine, who ran out of eligibility. Goodine led the Sooners with 59 makes from beyond the arc this past season. Next on the team was Kobe Elvis with 48. Elvis is also now gone.

In need of a point guard and sharp shooter, the Sooners get both out of Pack while paying for just one player. It seems there are already benefits of OU adding Trae Young as assistant general manager to help Moser lure talent to Norman.

Pack is a seasoned point guard with five years of college experience already under his belt. He's also a career 40.3% 3-point shooter.

An injury suffered in December limited Pack to only nine games this past season. Because of that, he's reportedly applying for a medical hardship waiver, which would give him one last year of eligibility at OU.

Fears was obviously the best player on the court this season for the Sooners, but he still made some freshman mistakes, especially early on in SEC play. Once Fears limited his turnovers down the stretch is when he reached his stride.

Pack, though, will get to OU with five more years of experience than Fears did when he entered his first SEC gauntlet. Those five seasons include 121 starts. That could be vital in SEC play and late in close games, both situations where OU struggled mightily this past season.

In nine games this season, Pack averaged 13.9 points, 4.3 assists and only 1.3 turnovers. He averaged 13.3 points, 3.4 assists and 1.8 turnovers in his last full season in 2023-24.

Pack started his career at Kansas State, where he spent his first two seasons, including his best, at least as a scorer. As a sophomore, Pack averaged 17.4 points, 2.2 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.5 turnovers. He shot 43.6% from 3-point range that season.

With two additions on Monday, Moser still has four roster spots to fill before next season. The Sooners have three incoming freshmen and also on Monday confirmed five players who will return from this past season.