The University of Miami Hurricanes‘ men’s basketball team got a lot better on Saturday. Nijel Pack, who entered the transfer portal from Kansas State in March, is going to the Hurricanes.
Pack and Miami basketball both announced the news on Twitter.
The U let’s work 🙌🏼 pic.twitter.com/6tQN6gJt4U
— Nijel 🅿️ack (@NijelPack24) April 23, 2022
👀👀 @NijelPack24 👀👀
Welcome to The U, Nijel Pack! Huuuuge addition to the squad 🙌
More: https://t.co/ZlMGw2Kcoj pic.twitter.com/wo3OZ4dZeh
— Canes Hoops (@CanesHoops) April 23, 2022
There is a lot to digest here.
First off, Pack is a star. He was named First-Team All-Big 12 as a sophomore in 2022. He averaged 17.4 points, 2.2 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game during the 2021-22 season while shooting 45.5% from the field, 43.6% on threes and 84.5% on free throws.
That’s a big addition to a team that reached the Elite Eight during the 2022 NCAA Tournament. And Miami fans were happy with the news.
Yesss Sirrrr https://t.co/WcUld9cHvU
— 3rd & 9 (@UpTownReece) April 23, 2022
Welcome to the Family https://t.co/5iHzjoOge5
— Alfre Acosta (@AlfreAcosta) April 23, 2022
ABSOLUTELY HUGE. final 4 next? https://t.co/DzJCPuJO52
— Kev 🙌🏻🐠🐬🔥 (@Smith31Kev) April 23, 2022
BIG get for this team🙌🏼 https://t.co/quuDfvpBAx
— MIA Sports House (@Sports_OT_House) April 23, 2022
Ginormous pickup!!! Let’s go CANES https://t.co/reqtVJvF7k
— Charlie Strauzer (@strauzer) April 23, 2022
That’s the basketball perspective.
But in the current era of college sports, that’s only a part of what’s relevant. There’s also a business element to look at. And in Pack’s case, that’s significant.
***BREAKING NEWS*** @LifeWallet is proud to announce @NijelPack24 has officially committed to UM as a basketball player. The biggest LifeWallet deal to date, two years $800,000.00 total at $400,000.00 per year plus a car. Congratulations!!! @johnnyruiz4 @alex7ruiz @ddiazon7 pic.twitter.com/SzKHag8qnG
— John H. Ruiz, Attorney at Law (@JohnHRuiz) April 23, 2022
Unsurprisingly, that also drew a lot of comments.
What a joke NIL is https://t.co/zQMHfcMqVK
— Bruce Brewster (@KBrews_Clues) April 23, 2022
Behold, the inevitable downfall of college sports. https://t.co/CihmP9LjSg
— thetasqueeze (@repealohmslaw) April 23, 2022
You want to make money, come to the U! https://t.co/n90Xvhp7Ax
— Michael Villa (@VillaMikey) April 23, 2022
Get your checkbooks out https://t.co/OlYuTR28Lo
— Ramblin Raiders Podcast (@RamblinRaiders) April 23, 2022
Sheesh! Ain’t mad at ya kid. Get the bag https://t.co/04jmzNCHQC
— Duke (@NdukaWorldPeace) April 23, 2022
we going full free agency mode. i love it
this is how much money is in entertainment industries. always has been. it’s just been hoarded for decades by those in power who also constantly denied it was even there
if they’re gonna profit massively, let the players do so too🤷♂️ https://t.co/5npJFqxcEk
— Drew (@orangeanddrew) April 23, 2022
Players are now openly being offered giant contracts concurrent with committing to specific schools.
I have no interest in debating whether this is good or bad, but very few pro sports exist without salary caps, and that is functionally what this is. https://t.co/pSYbSxwwBv
— David Mann (@MIZ_DBH) April 23, 2022
Imagine reading this three years ago. https://t.co/VePlplqnUL
— Adam Kramer (@KegsnEggs) April 23, 2022
Really, regardless of where one stands on the issue, it’s impossible to notice how much change this is bringing to college sports.
In pro sports, when a great player signs a record-breaking contract, the record usually lasts only until the next great player at that position signs his or her next deal. The NIL deals will likely play out similarly. Pack’s deal may be head-turning but chances are, the next star player to go down a similar road will sign an even bigger deal.
[Nijel Pack, Canes Basketball, John H. Ruiz, Attorney at Law]
