Under Jai Lucas, Miami has signed the top-ranked recruiting class and the fourth-best transfer class among programs with new head coaches hired during the 2025 cycle per 247Sports. Miami is 19th overall in the 2025 transfer portal class rankings and 30th among the incoming freshman classes.
The incoming transfers 247Sports lists for Miami are combo guard Jordan Kee, shooting guard Tru Washington, power forwards Marcus Allen and Malik Reneau, center Ernest Udeh Jr. and point guard Tre Donaldson. Donaldson, Reneau, Udeh and Washington are all projected starters for Miami in 2025-26.
Miami signed CG Dante Allen and small forward Shelton Henderson to national letters of intent and SF Timotej Malovec has verbally committed to the Hurricanes in the 2025 class. Unless Miami adds a small forward or another wing, expect Henderson to start with the four previously mentioned incoming transfers in 2025-26.
Lucas and his staff have significantly upgraded the talent on the Miami roster. Allen is a four-star signee, Henderson is five and Malovec, as an interntional committ is not rated. Five of the six incoming transfers to Miami are rated four stars through the portal, with Kee the lone exception at three stars.
Two first-year head coaches who are quietly putting together quality rosters: Miami’s Jai Lucas and VCU’s Phil Martelli Jr.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) April 20, 2025
Rhythm and chemistry is still TBD, but both have put together a foundation to be more than competitive in their respective leagues next season.
Iowa, Indiana and Maryland are the only 2025 transfer classes ranked ahead of Miami, which hired new head coaches. Iowa signed the sixth-ranked 2025 transfer class, Indiana eighth and Maryland 14th. New Iowa head coach Ben McCollum is bringing five players with him from Drake, where he spent last season.
Indiana coach Darren DeVries is bringing his star son, Tucker, with him from West Virginia, where he spent last season after being hired from Drake. Miami eliminated the DeVries and Drake from the 2023 NCAA Tournament in the first round.
Maryland hired Buzz Williams from Texas A&M as their new head coach. Williams brought four players with him from Texas A&M as transfers. The only player on the Miami roster with a connection to Duke, where Lucas was previously a head coach, is Henderson, who initially signed with the Blue Devils before flipping to Miami.
Lucas is also entering his first position as a head coach. DeVries, McCollum and Williams all have extensive experience as head coaches. Lucas has lived up to his reputation as an elite recruiter in less than two months, officially being the Miami head coach. Miami should have extremely talented rosters as long as Lucas is the head coach.