Wooga Poplar

Last updated
Wooga Poplar
No. 5Windy City Bulls
Position Shooting guard
League NBA G League
Personal information
Born (2003-01-05) January 5, 2003 (age 22)
Listed height6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight197 lb (89 kg)
Career information
High school MCSCS
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
College
NBA draft 2025: undrafted
Playing career2025–present
Career history
2025–present Windy City Bulls
Career highlights
Stats at NBA.com  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Stats at Basketball Reference   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Nisine Hamir "Wooga" Poplar (born January 5, 2003) is an American professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the Miami Hurricanes and the Villanova Wildcats.

Contents

High school career

Poplar attended the Mathematics, Civics and Sciences Charter School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [1] He began playing organised basketball as a sophomore, averaging 14.5 points a game and being named to the 2A All-State Second-Team. As a junior, he averaged 22.0 points and 5.0 rebounds, earning PIAA 2A Player of the Year as well as leading MCSCS to their first Philadelphia Public League championship, recording 23 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists in the title game to win MVP. [2] He also led the team to a PIAA state title. [3] In his senior year, Poplar was named to the 3A All-State First Team and led the team to the state semifinals.

Recruiting

Poplar was considered a four-star recruit by Rivals and 247Sports, and a three-star recruit by ESPN. On September 15, 2020, Poplar committed to playing college basketball for Miami over offers from Auburn, Georgia, Maryland, Penn State and Seton Hall. [4]

College recruiting information
NameHometownSchoolHeightWeightCommit date
Wooga Poplar
SG
Philadelphia, PA Mathematics, Civics and Sciences Charter School (PA)6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)185 lb (84 kg)Sep 15, 2020 
Recruit ratings: Rivals:  4 stars.svg     247Sports:  4 stars.svg     ESPN:  3 stars.svg    (79)
Overall recruit ranking:    Rivals: 78    247Sports: 123
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2021 Miami Basketball Commitments". Rivals.
  • "2021 Miami Hurricanes recruiting class". ESPN.
  • "2021 Team Ranking". Rivals.

College career

During his freshman season at Miami, Poplar played with future NBA players Jordan Miller and Isaiah Wong, [5] as the Hurricanes advanced to their first Elite Eight in program history. Poplar saw a larger role in his sophomore season, starting 36 of the 37 games he played in and averaged 8.4 points in 23.5 minutes per game. On March 26, 2023, he scored 16 points in a 88–81 Elite Eight win against Texas, helping the Hurricanes reach their first Final Four in program history. [6] In his junior season, Poplar started all 29 games he played, averaging 13.1 points per game and recording three double-doubles. [7] On December 16, 2023, he scored a then career-high 25 points in a 84–77 win over La Salle. [8] Poplar entered the 2024 NBA draft and the transfer portal before ultimately withdrawing from the draft. [9]

On June 5, 2024, Poplar committed to Villanova for his senior season. [10] He averaged a career-high 15.3 points per game, second on the team behind Eric Dixon, as well as leading the Wildcats in rebounding with 7.0 rebounds per game. [11] He was named to the All-Big East Third Team. [12] On March 13, 2025, Poplar led the Wildcats in scoring with 25 points in a 73–56 loss against UConn in the Big East tournament quarterfinals. [13] On April 3, he scored a career-high 32 points along with 11 rebounds in a 104–98 overtime loss against UCF in the Crown tournament semifinals. [14]

Professional career

After going undrafted in the 2025 NBA draft, Poplar joined the Chicago Bulls for the 2025 NBA Summer League. [15] Poplar signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Bulls on July 6, 2025. [16] He was waived on September 25. [17]

Career statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage 3P%  3-point field goal percentage FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game Bold Career high

College

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2021–22 Miami 3408.6.412.214.6541.4.3.3.02.3
2022–23 Miami 373623.5.470.375.8673.31.51.10.28.4
2023–24 Miami 292931.1.426.385.8644.82.10.80.313.1
2024–25 Villanova 363431.9.460.387.8567.01.51.30.315.3

References

  1. "Wooga Poplar Player Profile, Villanova". RealGM. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  2. Hunt, Donald (February 24, 2020). "MC&S wins first Public League championship". The Philadelphia Tribune. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  3. Sharp, Corey (March 22, 2019). "Math, Civics and Sciences boys nip Bishop Guilfoyle to win PIAA Class 2A state championship". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  4. Branham, Travis (September 16, 2020). "2021 three-star CG Nisine 'Wooga' Poplar commits to Miami". 247Sports. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  5. "2021-22 Men's Basketball Roster". University of Miami. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  6. "Miller, Wong rally Miami past Texas 88-81 for 1st Final Four". ESPN.com. March 26, 2023. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  7. "Wooga Poplar". University of Miami. 30 June 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  8. "Wooga Poplar scores 25 points, leads No. 24 Miami to 84-77 win over La Salle". ESPN.com. December 16, 2023. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  9. Fisher, Chris (May 29, 2024). "Kentucky target Wooga Poplar withdraws from NBA Draft". 247 Sports. Retrieved September 25, 2025.
  10. Borzello, Jeff (June 5, 2025). "Sources: Miami transfer Wooga Poplar commits to Villanova". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  11. "5 Wooga Poplar - Men's Basketball - Villanova University". Villanova University. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  12. "All-BIG EAST Teams Announced Four Unanimous Picks On First Team". Big East Conference. March 9, 2025. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  13. "UConn uses late run to beat Villanova 73-56 in Big East Conference Tournament quarterfinal". ESPN.com. March 13, 2025. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  14. "UCF Outlasts Wildcats 104-98 in Overtime". Villanova University. April 5, 2025. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  15. Poe, Julia (July 4, 2025). "Chicago Bulls announce full summer league roster, which includes Matas Buzelis, Yuki Kawamura and Josh Primo". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  16. "Bulls' Wooga Poplar: Signs Exhibit 10 pact". CBS Sports. July 6, 2025. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  17. "Wooga Poplar: Cut loose by Chicago". CBS Sports. September 25, 2025. Retrieved December 9, 2025.