Jamari Sibley was a star high school basketball player in Wisconsin. Sibley played alongside Jalen Johnson and the duo led Nicolet High School to a Division 2 WIAA Boys State Basketball championship his senior year.
Milwaukee Nicolet’s Jamari Sibley posterizes the Hartford defender 😳
The Badgers can’t let talent like this get out of state #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/Zkiak1xiPP
— IKE Badgers Podcast (@IKE_Badgers) January 19, 2019
He hasn’t really lived up to the hype he had surrounding him at the collegiate level. The 6-8 forward went to Georgetown but transferred to UTEP after his freshman year with the Hoyas.
After two years at UTEP, Sibley is in the transfer portal once again. Will he return home for his third college team?
Return home could revitalize Sibley
Sibley had a solid 2021-22 season for the Miners, shooting 45.9% from the floor and averaging over 5 points per game, grabbing four rebounds and a block per game with 34.8% shooting from 3 in 20.5 minutes per game. This year, however, Sibley struggled and received less playing time for UTEP. The 6-8 forward averaged 3.7 points and 2.1 rebounds, shooting 38.2% and 28.3% from 3 in 15 minutes per game.
Former Nicolet standout Jamari Sibley (6-8) has entered the transfer portal. He spent the past two seasons at UTEP after one year at Georgetown. #wisbb
— Mark Miller (@WisBBYearbook) March 20, 2023
Perhaps a return to Milwaukee would revitalize Sibley.
Sibley, from Milwaukee, is best remembered for winning a state title as a senior in high school along with Jalen Johnson. A shining prospect, Sibley averaged over 19 points per game and 7.4 rebounds per contest. He then did a prep year at Oak Hill Academy (VA) before enrolling at Georgetown.
Top 100 Jamari Sibley is headed to Georgetown next season to play for Patrick Ewing‼️the 6’9” forward made the move to Oak Hill this year after leading Nicolet(WI) to a state championship…#PhenomHoops @Coach_Rick57 @POBScout @JeffreyBendel_ pic.twitter.com/p0va9J38xq
— Phenom Hoop Videos (@PhenomMixtapes) April 26, 2020
Sibley, UWM a good match?
Does it make sense for Sibley to return home? After spending two years at UTEP a move back to his high school roots in Milwaukee would be cool to see. With UW-Milwaukee hoping to build on its most successful season in nearly a decade, it could be a great match.
UW-Milwaukee won more than 20 games and won a game in the College Basketball Invitational. UWM has solid wing scorers in BJ Freeman, Kentrell Pullian and Justin Thomas, a PF SIbley would pair nice with the perimeter scorers. Perhaps the Panthers would make perfect sense for Sibley, who can come and once again be looked at as a top option which he hasn’t been since high school in the Horizon League and for his hometown team.
With Sibley seeking to recapture his on-court success and the Panthers close to potentially reaching the NIT or even the NCAA Tournament, it could be a perfect fit.