University of Miami Athletics
5

Wooga Poplar

position

Guard

Height

6-5

Weight

197 lbs.

Class

Junior

Hometown

Philadelphia, Pa.

High School

Math, Civics and Sciences Charter School

 

Shop

Instagram

@callmewooga

Twitter

@PoplarNisine

Wooga Poplar - Men's Basketball - University of Miami Athletics

2023-24 (Junior):

  • Started all 29 games played for the Hurricanes
  • Missed two games due to an ankle injury
  • Averaged 13.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 31.1 minutes per game
  • Scored in double-figures in 21 of 29 games played
  • Recorded a six-game double-digit scoring streak
  • Totaled three double-doubles
  • Played 30-plus minutes in 19 games
  • Eclipsed the 20-point mark on four occasions
  • Ranked first on the team in free-throw percentage (.864), third in 3-point percentage and third in rebounding (4.8)
  • Set a new career-high in scoring with 25 points against La Salle (12/16/23)
  • Tallied a career-high nine made field goals against Stonehill (12/21/23)
  • Hauled in a career-high 11 rebounds against Georgia (11/17/23)
2022-23 (Sophomore)
  • Played in all 37 contests, starting 36
  • Averaged 8.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.5 and 1.1 steals in 23.5 minutes per game
  • Shot 47.0 percent from the floor, 37.4 percent beyond the arc and 86.7 percent at the line
  • Placed second among Hurricanes in free-throw percentage, third in field-goal percentage, third in steals and tied for third in starts
  • Tied for the most steals in a game (six) by an ACC player all season
  • Tied for the seventh-most starts in a single season in program history
  • Placed fourth on Miami’s ACC-only single-season 3-point percentage leaderboard (45.1)
  • Became the eighth Hurricane–11th occurrence–to make six 3-pointers in a game in Jim Larrañaga’s tenure, including the fourth to do so on eight or fewer tries
  • Tied for the fifth-most steals in a single game in program history (six)
  • Tied for the third-most steals (six) and fifth-most made 3-pointers (six) in ACC game in program history
  • Recorded the third-best NCAA Tournament single-game field-goal percentage (min. six FGM) in program history (85.7; 6-of-7)
  • Tenth ACC player in the last 20 years to post a 46/37/86 shooting line (min. 20 GP with one 3PM and one FTM per game), as well as one of four Power Six players in 2022-23
  • Scored in double figures 13 times, including in six of the last nine games, with 15-plus on five occasions, including in three of the final eight games, and 20 once
  • Grabbed five-plus boards 10 times, snatching seven twice
  • Dished out multiple assists 16 times, including in 11 of the last 19 games with five in a row, and had four thrice
  • Posted multiple steals 12 times, including eight in a 14-game span, and three-plus five times, all in a nine-game stretch
  • Played 20-plus minutes in 27 contests, including in 18 of the last 20, with 25-plus minutes in 14 outings, including in seven of the final nine with five in a row, and 30-plus in four games, including two of the last three
  • Led or co-led Miami in steals nine times, assists thrice, blocks twice, points once and rebounds once
  • Recorded the highest single-game steals total (six) and the second-highest single-game made 3-pointers mark (six) by a Hurricane
  • Logged two of the eight instances of a Miami player hitting multiple 3-pointers without a miss
  • Scored 15 points on 7-of-11 shooting, setting a career high in makes, in 25 minutes against Florida A&M (11/15
  • Set or tied career highs in points (20), made field goals (seven), made free throws (four), free-throw attempts (four) and minutes (34) versus St. Francis (PA) (12/17), adding three steals and shooting 2-of-4 from deep
  • Scored nine points and collected a career-high six steals at Georgia Tech (1/4)
  • Pulled down a career-best seven boards versus Syracuse (1/16)
  • Totaled seven points, five rebounds and a career-high four assists against Louisville (2/11)
  • In his lone game as a reserve, scored 18 points to help Miami defeat No. 25 Pittsburgh (3/4) and earn a share of the ACC regular season title
  • Notched eight points and a career-high-tying seven rebounds in 28 minutes against Wake Forest (3/9) in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals
  • Recorded 10 points, shooting 2-of-4 from deep, and a career-high-tying four assists versus No. 21 Duke (3/10) in the ACC Tournament semifinals
  • Posted 16 points on a 6-of-7 clip, including making his lone 3-pointer, in the Elite Eight win over No. 5/7 Texas (3/26), adding six rebounds, a co-career-high four assists and two steals
2021-22 (Freshman)
  • Played in 34 of 37 contests
  • Averaged 2.3 points and 1.4 rebounds in 8.6 minutes per game
  • Made his collegiate debut in the season opener against Canisius (11/9)
  • Recorded a season-high 12 points in 18 minutes at Florida Atlantic (11/16), shooting 4-of-5 overall, 3-of-3 at the line and making his lone 3-pointer in his first road outing
  • Tallied six points, five rebounds and a 4-of-4 mark at the stripe, setting season highs in makes and attempts, in 15 minutes of play against Florida A&M (11/21)
  • Played a season-high 21 minutes at Penn State (12/1) and scored four points
  • Finished with five points, five rebounds and a season-best four assists in 15 minutes versus Lipscomb (12/8)
  • Posted four points and a season-best six rebounds, the most of any Hurricane, in the victory at second-ranked Duke (1/8)
High School
  • Graduated from Math, Civics and Sciences Charter School (MCSCS)
  • Labeled a four-star recruit by 247Sports and Rivals and three-star prospect by ESPN
    • Ranked No. 78 overall, including No. 18 among shooting guards and fifth-best in Pennsylvania, by Rivals
    • Listed as the nation’s No. 121 player and sixth-best Pennsylvania player by 247Sports
    • Finished No. 123 the 247Sports Composite rankings
  • Three-time all-state pick
  • Garnered 3A First Team All-State recognition and led MCSCS to the state semifinals as a senior
  • Averaged 22.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game as a junior, nabbing PIAA 2A Player of the Year and First Team All-Philadelphia Public League accolades
  • Also led MCSCS to both its first Philadelphia Public League title game appearance and championship, tallying 23 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals in the league final to earn MVP honors
  • Averaged 14.5 points per game as a sophomore, receiving 2A Second Team All-State honors
  • Guided his school to the state title, its first crown in eight years
  • Started playing high school basketball as a sophomore and scored over 1,000 points before the end of his junior season
Personal
  • Full name is Nisine Hamir Poplar, but goes by Wooga
  • Nickname is pronounced WUH-Guh, legal name is pronounced Niye-SEEN and last name is pronounced POP-Lurr
  • Born Jan. 5, 2003
  • Parents are Hisine Poplar and Monica Solomon
  • Has a younger brother, Niare
  • Majoring in sociology with a minor in sport administration
  • Enjoys riding dirt bikes
  • Favorite athlete is LeBron James because he is a leader on and off the court
  • Best sports memory is winning a state championship
  • Committed to Miami over offers from schools such as Auburn, Georgetown, Georgia, LSU, Marquette, Maryland, Penn State, Seton Hall, VCU, Virginia Tech and Wichita State, among others.