The Miami basketball program picked up a commitment from former Florida small forward Keith Stone. Stone started 39 of the 51 games he played in the last two seasons. The 6’8 forward grew up in and played high school basketball in Deerfield Beach.
Keith Stone is the latest addition to what has become a stellar recruiting class for Jim Larranaga and the Miami basketball program. Stone doesn’t count in the recruiting class rankings. He gives Miami an upgrade on the frontline that was desperately needed. Stone gives the Hurricanes size on the wing.
Miami essentially has Stone to replace Anthony Lawrence with a player with good size on the wing who can play either forward spot. Stone announced his return to South Florida with a tweet that stated “I’m coming home momma.” The 6’8, 254 pound forward will have one season of eligibility remaining.
Stone missed half the season in 2018-19 after tearing his ACL January 19. He is scheduled to graduate over the summer and be ready for the 2019-20 season. Stone could potentially start at power forward if Larranaga wants to start three guards or small forward if Larranaga chooses a bigger lineup.
Stone averaged 6.4 points per game, 3.4 rebounds and shot 39.4 percent on three-point attempts during his career with the Gators. He averaged 18.3 minutes in 85 games with 39 starts in three seasons at Florida.
The Miami basketball program will have ten players on scholarship for the upcoming season. The Hurricanes still have three more potential scholarships to give. They have also added incoming freshman guard Isaiah Wong, forward Anthony Walker and guard Harlond Beverly.
Wong and Walker signed in December. Beverly signed in April. Wong, Walker and Beverly form the nation’s 24th ranked recruiting class. Adding in Stone would push the Hurricanes higher on that list.
The depth on the Miami basketball roster will be much better in 2019-20 than it was this past season. Stone joins with rising junior center Rodney Miller who redshirted in 2018-19, forward Sam Waardenburg and rising sophomore Deng Gak who missed all but eight games with an injury last season.
Walker will also figure in the rotation up front. In the backcourt the Hurricanes will have a lot of experience with rising juniors, point guard Chris Lykes and Oklahoma transfer Kameron McGusty and rising senior Dejan Vasiljevic.
Stone gained a lot of valuable experience with Florida. He was on three NCAA Tournament teams with the Gators. Stone played in six NCAA Tournament games as a freshman and sophomore in 2017 and ’18.
He will give Jim Larranaga versatility on the frontline that the Hurricanes would have been missing with Lawrence’s graduation. Stone’s addition is critical to the Miami frontcourt. Going into the season with Gak, Miller and Waardenburg didn’t give the Hurricanes a lot of experience. Stone adds to that.
It now gives Larranaga a versatile frontcourt. Miller is a traditional center, Gak provides athleticism and shot blocking. With Stone and Waardenburg on the frontline, Larranaga can put five players in the game to stretch the defense with Lykes, McGusty and Vasiljevic on the perimeter.
Stone’s addition is a big upgrade to the Miami basketball roster. The Hurricanes should challenge to receive their fourth NCAA Tournament bid in the last five seasons.