The Baylor Bears made one of many largest strikes of offseason in males’s faculty basketball simply by conserving their head coach. The Kentucky Wildcats made Scott Drew their obvious prime choice after John Calipari left this system for Arkansas, however after a short-lived flirtation, Drew determined to remain at Baylor, the place he received the 2021 nationwide championship.
The Bears wanted reload within the switch portal after conserving Drew with two seemingly first spherical picks out the door in Ja’Kobe Walter and Yves Missi, in addition to a pair key rotation items graduating. Baylor’s response has been swift, and their portal haul acquired even higher on late Sunday night time.
Baylor added arguably greatest remaining participant within the switch portal by securing a dedication from Norchad Omier. The previous Miami Hurricanes large man is a talented inside scorer, a unbelievable rebounder, an important display screen setter, and even stretched out his taking pictures vary previous the three-point line final season with the Hurricanes.
Even higher, Omier picked Baylor regardless of having extra profitable NIL gives from different packages. He picked the Bears over Louisville, Arkansas, Clemson, and St. John’s, amongst others. Baylor landed him with out throwing him the most important bag potential.
Omier declared for the 2024 NBA Draft, however didn’t earn an invitation to the mix. Likelihood is he will probably be enjoying for Baylor subsequent season, and his addition makes the Bears one of many prime groups within the nation.
Omier is Baylor’s second main addition within the switch portal after touchdown Duke’s Jeremy Roach final month. Like Omier, Roach’s NIL cost was additionally a giant level of hypothesis. There was a web-based report that Roach left Duke for a $1.5 million NIL take care of Baylor. Roach instantly shot it down.
Omier was ranked because the No. 5 total participant to hit the switch portal this offseason in males’s faculty basketball by 247 Sports activities. Roach and Omier have a case as the most effective 1-2 punch within the portal this offseason.
The largest NIL funds within the switch portal publicly reported up to now have been Oumar Ballo’s $1.2 million deal to affix Indiana, and Johnell Davis’ settlement with Arkansas for “north of $1 million.” It’s potential Omier may have gotten that type of cash elsewhere after averaging 17 factors and 10 rebounds per recreation for Miami final season, however apparently it didn’t occur with Baylor.
After Omier’s dedication, faculty basketball insider Jeff Goodman listed Baylor together with UConn and Alabama as packages that may get gamers with out breaking the financial institution in NIL. If that’s true, Baylor has put collectively a hell of an incoming class with out paying prime greenback.
Baylor has a possible top-5 decide within the 2025 NBA Draft coming in with New York-bred taking pictures guard VJ Edgecombe. Edgecombe is an elite athlete who can lock down protection and end performs above the rim on offense. We ranked him as among the best NBA prospects in highschool basketball final summer time. He’s becoming a member of a veteran group that ought to put him in place to succeed.
Baylor did simply land Roach and Omier within the switch porta — it additionally retained a few of its greatest gamers from final season. Jayden Nunn is a lethal shooter at 6’4 who will probably be a giant assistance on the wing. Langston Love is a gifted scoring guard who was slowed by accidents final season however may emerge as this group’s chief in factors per recreation this season.
Add in incoming freshman guard Robert Wright III and the return of rising junior heart Josh Ojianwuna, and Baylor appears like among the best groups in America. The Bears are a bit skinny inside, however Omier offers them a small ball heart choice to unfold the ground and let their athletes like Edgecomb assault the basket.
Drew determined to remain at Baylor as a result of he already is aware of he can win a nationwide championship there. He put the Bears in place to compete for one more one along with his knowledgeable work within the switch portal.
