Baylor MBB Bolsters Front Court with the Addition of Miami Transfer Omier

[Roberts, Matt]

BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – May 7, 2024

Baylor MBB Bolsters Front Court with the Addition of Miami Transfer Omier
The 6-foot-7 forward averages a double-double for his career
For more information, contact: Matt Roberts, 254-227-2280, WM_Roberts at Baylor.edu<mailto:WM_Roberts at Baylor.edu>

WACO, Texas – Baylor men's basketball added a second graduate transfer from the ACC with the addition of former Miami (Fla.) forward Norchad Omier, head coach Scott Drew announced Tuesday.

Drew is excited about adding a player the caliber of Omier, an all-conference performer in all four seasons at the collegiate level, to an already talented Baylor roster.

“Norchad exemplifies what a Baylor student-athlete is all about," Drew said. “An all-conference performer in the ACC, he helped lead his team to a Final Four last season and won the Skip Prosser Award for academics in the ACC. He'll be a great addition to the Baylor basketball program, someone the Baylor family will love getting to know, and a great role model for the Waco community.”

The first person from Nicaragua to receive a Division I basketball scholarship, Omier played two seasons with Miami, helping the Hurricanes to the first Final Four in program history in 2023. In 2024, he averaged a career-best 17.0 points per game, along with 10.0 rebounds, earning a spot on the All-ACC Second Team. He was also honored with the Skip Prosser Award for men’s basketball last season, given to the top scholar-athlete in ACC men's basketball.
The only player in the conference to average at least 15 points and nine rebounds, he was the first Hurricane since Rion Brown in 2013-14 to lead the team in points and rebounds and just the sixth to do so since 1985. His 17.0 points per game ranked seventh-most in the conference, while his 10.0 rebounds were second to only North Carolina's Armando Bacot. His 10 boards per contest ranked as the sixth-most in the power-six, and he was the only player to start all 31 games for the 'Canes. His stellar stat line earned him numerous postseason awards, including second-team all-conference (coaches and media) and an NABC All-District second-team selection for the second-straight season.
In his first season at the power-conference level, the 6-foot-7 forward appeared in 37 games with 36 starts. He averaged 13.1 points and 10.0 rebounds per game for a Miami team that made its first-ever Final Four in 2022-2023. He was named an AP All-ACC second teamer and was named to the All-ACC Third Team by the league's coaches. He was also named a First-Team All-ACC honoree, according to KenPom. During his sophomore season, Omier recorded a team-high 16 doubles-doubles, which tied for the second-most in the conference. He finished fifth in the nation and first in the ACC in total rebounds (371) while setting the Miami record for career rebounds in NCAA Tournament play (60).
Omier played 2021-22 at Arkansas State, where he left his mark winning 2022 Sunbelt Player and Defensive Player of the Year, becoming the third player in conference history to win both in the same year. As a redshirt freshman, he led the team in scoring, made field goals (203), field-goal percentage (.632), made free throws (113), free-throw attempts (155), rebounding (12.2), and blocked shots (57). His 12.2 rebounds per game in his two seasons rank second in Arkansas State program history, becoming the first player in league history to average 19 points and 13 rebounds in conference play.
In his first season of collegiate basketball, Omier had an immediate impact, playing in 23 of 24 games with 22 starts, earning Sun Belt Freshman of the Year. He averaged 12.6 points, 12.3 rebounds, 1.2 steals, 1.4 blocks and recorded 15 double-doubles during his fabulous freshman season. In the process, he became just the fourth freshman since 1992-93 to average at least 12.0 points and 12.0 rebounds per game, and the first since Kansas State’s Michael Beasley in 2007-08.
He also has experience at the international level, playing for the Nicaraguan National team in 2021, where he played in six games, including four wins, during FIBA World Cup 2023 Americas Pre-Qualifiers. In those contests, Omier notched five double-doubles, leading to 15.0 points, 11.8 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game.
Omier is Baylor's second graduate transfer from the ACC and the second with Final Four experience, joining Duke guard Jeremy Roach, who signed late last month. The seasoned duo joins one of the highest-ranked recruiting classes in the nation in V.J. Edgecombe, Rob Wright, Jason Asemota and Noah Boyed. The class is rated as high as No. 4 in the country by On3.com. ESPN, Rivals and 247 Sports also have the Bears' 2024 class ranked in the top 10.
Follow @BaylorMBB on X, Instagram and Facebook for additional updates.
www.BaylorBears.com<http://www.BaylorBears.com>



Matt Roberts | Associate Director of Athletic Communications (MBB/MGOLF/ WGOLF)
Department of Athletics | Baylor University
C: 254-227-2280
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