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Poplar in Portal

gogeta4 said:
I dribble better than dude im in my late 30s and havent played structured basketball since the Pal League in middle school.

Dude has no chance of being Donte Divincenzo lol
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It was more positioning Poplar as a complementary player and what that upside looks like as opposed to the player comp
 
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HTXCane said:
Behind the paywal but Poplar explains why he left.

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Wooga Poplar put up career-best numbers this past season at Miami, but the toolsy, 6-foot-5 wing is looking for more. Poplar was a late addition to the transfer portal, and he's one of the top available wings left on the board.
Ahead of the 2023-24 campaign, Poplar was a popular breakout selection in just about everyone's eyes. In some ways, he lived up to most of the hype. Poplar shot over 40% on 114 catch-and-shoot 3-pointers last year. The explosive athlete shot over 64% at the rim, with some rim-rocking dunks. Poplar had some big showings in non-conference play, including a 19-point, eight-rebound showing at Kentucky and 15 points and six rebounds against Kansas State in November.
But he didn't fully explode.
A nasty sprained ankle kept him out of two early-January games against Clemson and Wake Forest and hampered him for the rest of Miami's frustrating, 15-17 season. The injury was painful and annoying, but Poplar also expressed some frustration with his role at Miami. Poplar had just an 18.9% usage rate during ACC play. That was the second-lowest mark in Miami's six-man rotation –– behind Norchad Omier, Matt Cleveland, Nijel Pack and Bensley Joseph.

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"I felt like there was a better opportunity for me somewhere else," Poplar said. "Miami is a great school, but I felt like I needed to move on. When I was at Miami, I was kinda in the corner. No plays run for me. So I need to go to a school where I have plays run for me and I can get my teammates involved. I feel like I can do way more than just stand in the corner."
High-major programs like Arkansas, Villanova, Duke, Kentucky, Illinois, Georgia, Kansas State and Kansas have all been in contact.
"I feel like I can show more coming off ball screens," Poplar said. "I'm not just a spot-up guy. I feel like I can do everything on the floor. That's what I'm looking for in my next year. I felt like I was supposed to be that guy until the injury happened. Things happen for a reason. I'm just going to schools and seeing what anyone else can give me. I will work for my spot. I'm not looking for it to be easy. Wherever I feel comfortable and wherever is home for me, that's where I'll be attending."
 
FromDeeeeep said:
Wooga Poplar put up career-best numbers this past season at Miami, but the toolsy, 6-foot-5 wing is looking for more. Poplar was a late addition to the transfer portal, and he's one of the top available wings left on the board.
Ahead of the 2023-24 campaign, Poplar was a popular breakout selection in just about everyone's eyes. In some ways, he lived up to most of the hype. Poplar shot over 40% on 114 catch-and-shoot 3-pointers last year. The explosive athlete shot over 64% at the rim, with some rim-rocking dunks. Poplar had some big showings in non-conference play, including a 19-point, eight-rebound showing at Kentucky and 15 points and six rebounds against Kansas State in November.
But he didn't fully explode.
A nasty sprained ankle kept him out of two early-January games against Clemson and Wake Forest and hampered him for the rest of Miami's frustrating, 15-17 season. The injury was painful and annoying, but Poplar also expressed some frustration with his role at Miami. Poplar had just an 18.9% usage rate during ACC play. That was the second-lowest mark in Miami's six-man rotation –– behind Norchad Omier, Matt Cleveland, Nijel Pack and Bensley Joseph.

​

"I felt like there was a better opportunity for me somewhere else," Poplar said. "Miami is a great school, but I felt like I needed to move on. When I was at Miami, I was kinda in the corner. No plays run for me. So I need to go to a school where I have plays run for me and I can get my teammates involved. I feel like I can do way more than just stand in the corner."
High-major programs like Arkansas, Villanova, Duke, Kentucky, Illinois, Georgia, Kansas State and Kansas have all been in contact.
"I feel like I can show more coming off ball screens," Poplar said. "I'm not just a spot-up guy. I feel like I can do everything on the floor. That's what I'm looking for in my next year. I felt like I was supposed to be that guy until the injury happened. Things happen for a reason. I'm just going to schools and seeing what anyone else can give me. I will work for my spot. I'm not looking for it to be easy. Wherever I feel comfortable and wherever is home for me, that's where I'll be attending."
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Meanwhile, he hasn't landed anywhere yet.
 
AmherstCane said:
It’s crazy because L loved him and saw him as a potential future NBA starter and was trying to help him improve his handle and develop his game… but without a handle the options are pretty limited.
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His stock was high a year ago because he projected as a complementary, athletic 3 and D player in NBA, which teams can never have enough of. Perhaps the staff overestimated his upside but he simply will never be a primary scoring option at a high-major program, and I think that's why he hasn't found a home yet.
 
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