Miami basketball could be interested in Syracuse transfer Jalen Carey

Former Syracuse point guard Jalen Carey who considered the Miami basketball program out of high school could join the Hurricanes as a transfer after entering his name in the portal.

Former Syracuse point guard Jalen Carey could consider the Miami basketball program after the former four-star signee entered his name in the transfer portal. Carey considered Miami out of high school before the Hurricanes were wrongly implicated in the Adidas scandal in 2017. Miami is looking for transfers for 2020-21.

Miami basketball head coach Jim Larranaga has spoken openly about the impact the Adidas scandal had on the Hurricanes’ inability to sign a recruit in the class of 2018. Carey initially considered Miami and eliminated the Hurricanes after the fallout from their implication as part of the Adidas bribery scandal.

It has been mentioned Carey considered Miami. The 6’3 former four-star point guard did not live up to his potential. In 27 games over two seasons with the Orange, Carey has averaged 3.3 points per game, 1.7 rebounds, one assist and shot just 36.6 percent from the floor and made just 17.4 percent of his three-point attempts.

Carey missed all but two games during the 2019-20 season because of a thumb injury. If Miami is able to sign Carey he could have three seasons of eligibility remaining if he is able to gain status to play immediately. After playing just two games last season, Carey would be eligible for a redshirt season.

Miami lost guard Dejan Vasiljevic and forward Keith Stone with their eligibility expired following the 2019-20 season. Miami currently has nine scholarship players on the roster, plus incoming freshman Matt Cross who signed a letter of intent in November, plus four-star wing Earl Timberlake who committed last fall.

Larranaga spoke to Inside the U about the Miami basketball team pursuing transfers this spring. Miami will have incoming senior center, Nysier Brooks after he sat out following his transfer from Cincinnati in 2019. Kameron McGusty will be entering his second season of eligibility with Miami after sitting out the 2018-19 season.

"“I think it’s a little bit harder with all of the kids entering the transfer portal because all of them must feel like if I’m going to transfer, am I willing to do it without taking an official visit and basically looking into the school by communicating with the coaches over the phone because right now there are no official visits and there might not be for the remainder of the semester or even the summer”"

The fluidity of the current situation with recruiting could give Miami an edge with Carey. Both sides have familiarity with each other. One obstacle could be that the Hurricanes are loaded on the perimeter. McGusty, rising senior Chris Lykes and rising sophomores Isaiah Wong and Harlond Beverly provide Miami with a deep backcourt.

If Timberlake honors his commitment, his immense talent will command playing time. Cross is an exceptional perimeter shooter. Without Carey, Miami is already six players deep on the wing. The Hurricanes have suffered from a lack of depth the last two seasons. With an incomplete roster, it is worth at least gauging Carey’s interest.