Jai Lucas could be working on keeping Miami freshman G Jalil Bethea

Miami is one of 11 schools that have contacted transfer guard Jalil Bethea, according to longtime college basketball writer Adam Zagoria. Bethea spent his freshman season at Miami after being a five-star prospect and McDonald's All-American in the 2024 class.

Judging by the X post from Zagoria, it appears new Miami head coach Jai Lucas is trying to get Bethea to remain with the Hurricanes. As a former McDonald's All-American himself, Lucas could be the ideal coach to help Bethea develop and have a redemptive sophomore season.

Bethea is the 14th overall transfer and fourth shooting guard in the 2025 portal per the 247Sports rankings. In the 247Sports 2024 class composite rankings, Bethea was the seventh prospect and third ranked shooting guard. Several early 2025 NBA Draft projections had Bethea as a lottery pick.

Bethea averaged 7.1 points per game, 2.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists while shooting 36.8 percent from the floor, 32.6 percent on three-point attempts and 82.0 percent from the free throw line. Bethea had nine games scoring in double figures, with a high of 21 in a win over Syracuse, but had only seven games shooting at least 50 percent from the field.

Miami signed the seventh-best 2024 class led by Bethea. Point guard Divine Ugochukwu is the only remaining 2024 Miami signee who has not entered the transfer portal. Forward Isaiah Johnson-Arigu transferred to Iowa midseason. Former four-star guard Austin Swartz also entered the transfer portal after the conclusion of Miami's season.

Bethea can be a foundational player for Lucas if he can convince him to return to Miami and get him to develop far beyond his 2024-25 production. Lucas needs to build nearly an entirely new roster. Guard A.J. Staton-McCray and Ugochukwu appear to be the only players returning to Miami for the 2025-26 season.