Indiana made the final five for 4-star Miami transfer Nijel Pack, but the hometown star ultimately chose the SEC over the Hoosiers
While Indiana is making strides in reshaping its roster through the transfer portal, the process remains a slow climb. New head coach Darian DeVries has been relentless in his efforts to recruit top talent, but at the end of the day, it’s up to the players to decide if they’re ready to embrace the Hoosiers’ legacy.
The Hoosiers made it to the final five for one highly coveted 4-star transfer, but ultimately fell short. Miami transfer Nijel Pack, who spent his first two seasons at Kansas State before transferring to Miami for three years, had listed Indiana as one of his top choices. However, just yesterday, he revealed his decision to take his talents to the SEC for his final season.
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Nijel Pack delivers a crushing blow to the Hoosiers, choosing to transfer to the Oklahoma Sooners over Indiana
The news of Nijel Pack choosing Oklahoma over Indiana stings deeply, as his leadership and wealth of experience would have been a game-changer for the Hoosiers. What makes this even more painful is that Pack is an Indiana native, growing up just an hour away in Indianapolis. He had the chance to return home and play near his roots, yet chose to leave the Big Ten for the SEC.
Pack is an elite ball handler with a keen court vision, always knowing how to set up his teammates, but it’s his deadly shooting ability that Indiana could’ve desperately used. Despite missing much of the 2024-2025 season with a lingering foot and ankle injury, his stellar stats from the previous four seasons serve as a reminder of the impact he could have had for the Hoosiers
During his time at Kansas State, Pack quickly emerged as a standout, averaging 12.7 points per game as a freshman and posting a career-high 17.4 points per game in his sophomore season. His departure from the Wildcats after such a stellar start to his college career came as a shock to many.
When he transferred to Miami, his scoring numbers didn’t quite match those early heights, as he never averaged more than 14 points per game. But it was his deadly three-point shooting that truly set him apart. In his first season with the Hurricanes, Pack shot an impressive 40.4% from beyond the arc, followed by 35.7% in his second season.
This is a tough blow for Indiana, especially considering the Hoosiers are now left with just four or five players on the roster. With Luke Goode still awaiting word on his hardship waiver for a fifth season, his status remains uncertain. Head coach Darian DeVries is working tirelessly to bring in new talent, but the clock is ticking as the transfer portal continues to empty out.
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