The University of Miami's men's basketball program is undergoing significant changes with the appointment of Jai Lucas as head coach and active engagement in the transfer portal to rebuild the team's roster.
Continuing with their emphasis on the transfer portal, Miami has recently reached out to Marquel Sutton, the Summit League Player of the Year. Sutton, a 6-foot-8 forward from Tulsa, Oklahoma, had a great 2024-25 season with the Omaha Mavericks, averaging 18.9 points and 7.9 rebounds per game while shooting 47.9% from the field. His performance has caught the eyes of many teams in the transfer portal with Kansas, Ohio State, Mississippi State, Baylor, Clemson, Missouri, Xavier, Texas, Notre Dame, LSU, Washington, and Iowa having all reached out as well.
The Hurricanes have experienced a significant roster turnover, with several players entering the transfer portal. Jalil Bethea was a key contributor as a freshman and his departure leaves a void in the backcourt. Austin Swartz enters the portal having averaged 5.9 points per game last season. Kiree Huie played in 14 games and started twice last year. Paul Djobet averaged 5.5 points and 2.6 rebounds per game during the season. As of right now, there are very few players left.
Some players have yet to announce their intentions. Notably, freshman Divine Ugochukwu and transfer guard A.J. Staton-McCray remain. Recent workouts with Coach Lucas suggest they may continue with the program.
During Lucas' tenure at Duke, he played a pivotal role in securing top recruiting classes in both 2024 and 2025 and served as the program's defensive coordinator, leading the Blue Devils to a top-ten national ranking in scoring defense.
Coach Lucas faces the challenge of reconstructing the Hurricanes' roster the season after Miami tied its program record for losses in a season. His reputation as a top recruiter positions him well to attract talent through the transfer portal but it will be the pursuit of players like Sutton that will show whether Miami can draw in big-time transfers.