Wooga Poplar Bio
Nisine Hamir Poplar is an American professional basketball player currently with the Windy City Bulls of the NBA G League. Poplar established himself as a dependable two-way wing during a four-year college career split between the Miami Hurricanes and the Villanova Wildcats, earning All-Big East recognition as a senior.
Early Life and Background
Nisine Hamir Poplar was born on January 5, 2003, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He attended the Mathematics, Civics and Sciences Charter School in Philadelphia, where he began playing organized basketball as a sophomore and quickly emerged as a leading scorer and rebounder for the program.
At MCSCS, Poplar posted 14.5 points per game as a sophomore and expanded his production to 22.0 points and 5.0 rebounds as a junior, earning PIAA 2A Player of the Year honors. He helped lead the team to its first Philadelphia Public League championship and later to a PIAA state title, finishing his high school career with first- and second-team All-State recognition.
Path to Basketball
Poplar was a sought-after recruit coming out of Philadelphia, rated a four-star prospect by Rivals and 247Sports and a three-star recruit by ESPN. On September 15, 2020, he committed to play college basketball at the University of Miami over offers from multiple Power Five programs, choosing the Hurricanes as the next step in his development.
Following three seasons at Miami, during which his role expanded from a reserve contributor into a consistent starter, Poplar entered the transfer portal and on June 5, 2024, committed to Villanova for his senior season. The move to Villanova allowed him to assume a larger offensive and rebounding role in the Big East.
Wooga Poplar Career
Early Career (2021–2024)
Poplar began his collegiate career with the Miami Hurricanes in 2021. As a freshman he came off the bench in a supporting role on a Miami squad that made a deep NCAA Tournament run, and by his sophomore season he was a regular starter, beginning 36 of 37 games and averaging 8.4 points in 23.5 minutes per game.
During the 2022–23 postseason, Poplar contributed 16 points in an Elite Eight victory over Texas, helping Miami reach the program’s first Final Four. Across his Miami tenure he grew into a reliable perimeter scorer and secondary rebounder, recording three double-doubles during his junior campaign and posting a then-career-high 25 points in a December 16, 2023 win over La Salle.
Villanova Breakthrough (2024–2025)
For the 2024–25 season Poplar transferred to the Villanova Wildcats and delivered a breakout year, averaging a career-high 15.3 points per game while leading the Wildcats in rebounding with 7.0 rebounds per game. His scoring and board work provided Villanova with consistent two-way production and interior toughness from the wing.
Poplar’s senior season included several high-impact performances. He produced a 25-point effort in a March 13, 2025 Big East tournament quarterfinal against UConn and followed with a career-high 32 points and 11 rebounds on April 3, 2025, in an overtime semifinal contest. Those performances and his season totals earned him a place on the All-Big East Third Team for 2025.
Windy City Bulls Era (2025–Present)
After going undrafted in the 2025 NBA Draft, Poplar joined the Chicago Bulls for the 2025 NBA Summer League and signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Bulls on July 6, 2025. He was waived by Chicago on September 25, 2025, and subsequently joined the Windy City Bulls of the NBA G League for the 2025 season.
With Windy City, Poplar began his professional career in 2025, listed as a shooting guard and wearing No. 5. The G League assignment provides a platform to develop his perimeter shooting, defensive versatility and transition play while pursuing NBA call-up opportunities.
Driving Style and Strengths
Poplar plays primarily on the wing as a scoring-oriented shooting guard who also rebounds aggressively for his size. He combines perimeter scoring with an ability to attack closeouts and finish in traffic, and his rebounding totals at Villanova underline an aptitude for battling on the glass. His game features consistent minutes production, body strength to absorb contact and the experience of stepping into larger roles across multiple collegiate systems.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Poplar’s career include leading MCSCS to Philadelphia Public League and PIAA state championships in high school, playing a meaningful role in Miami’s deep NCAA Tournament run, posting a personal career-high 32 points with 11 rebounds in April 2025, and earning Third Team All-Big East honors in 2025. His transition from undrafted college senior to a G League roster spot in 2025 represents the next chapter of his professional trajectory.
Wooga Poplar Career Wins
Across his amateur and collegiate career Poplar’s verified team successes include high school championships at MCSCS and a significant NCAA Tournament run with Miami. Individually, his verified accomplishments include several high-scoring collegiate outings, multiple double-doubles, and All-Big East Third Team recognition.
College Highlights
At Miami, Poplar was part of the Hurricanes squad that reached the Elite Eight and advanced to the Final Four, contributing key scoring off the bench and eventually as a regular starter. At Villanova, his 2024–25 season produced a career-high scoring average of 15.3 points per game and a team-leading 7.0 rebounds per game, capped by All-Big East Third Team honors.
Other Wins & Perfromances
In high school, Poplar earned PIAA 2A Player of the Year honors as a junior, was named to All-State teams in multiple classifications, and was MVP of the Philadelphia Public League championship game after a 23-point performance. Those early successes established him as a collegiate prospect and set the stage for his college achievements.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked Poplar’s first professional campaign. Following the 2025 NBA Draft he participated in the Chicago Bulls’ Summer League and signed an Exhibit 10 contract before being waived late in September. He joined the Windy City Bulls in the NBA G League for the 2025–present period, beginning the process of adapting his college skill set to the professional level and pursuing NBA opportunities through strong two-way play.
Poplar’s immediate outlook centers on refining shooting consistency and on-ball defensive actions while sustaining the rebounding and interior scoring that defined his senior season. The Windy City assignment offers regular playing time and exposure to NBA affiliates, positioning him to earn further professional opportunities with continued development.