Miami and Jai Lucas in contention for No. 10 player in Class of 2026

Five‑star small forward Jaxon Richardson, the No. 10 player in ESPN’s Class of 2026, has trimmed his college interest to a final ten, with Miami included, according to his recent announcement on Instagram and multiple recruiting outlets.

The 6‑foot‑6 prospect from Miami Columbus High has drawn buzz as one of the nation’s biggest risers. ESPN ranks him No. 10 nationally in the 2026 class, crediting his combination of athleticism, vertical bounce, and shooting touch. He helped Columbus to a national championship alongside the Boozer twins last season. In his junior year, Richardson averaged 13 points, 5 boards, 2 assists, 1 block and 1 steal.

Richardson's final ten schools include Alabama, Michigan, Louisville, USC, Creighton, Miami, Ole Miss, Cincinnati, Villanova, and Seton Hall. Notably absent is Michigan State, the alma mater of his father Jason Richardson and brother Jase. It is a slightly surprising omission but a positive for Miami.

With Michigan State presumed to be out of the picture, the case for the Hurricanes is real. Assistant coach Andrew Moran, who formerly coached Richardson at Columbus, joined the Hurricanes' staff in this past spring. That is a connection for Miami that could help bring in Richardson in the future. Richardson’s unique profile — NBA family, high ceiling, and skillset — marks him as a potentially transformative prospect.

For Miami, landing Richardson would be a massive endorsement of the direction under coach Jai Lucas and his staff. Since Lucas has taken the reigns of the program, he has made it a point of emphasis to keep in-state talent. When first taking the job in Coral Gables, Lucas was a known recruiter, especially during his time at Duke where helped bring in Cooper Flagg and the Boozer twins. Now, he gets a chance to flex his recruiting muscles for a player right in his backyard.