The Miami Hurricanes continue their aggressive offseason overhaul, landing another major transfer in former TCU center Ernest Udeh Jr., according to a report from On3. Udeh, a former McDonald’s All-American and top-40 recruit, brings elite size, rim protection, and untapped potential to a frontcourt that desperately needed reinforcements.
The 6-foot-11, 260-pound big man announced his commitment to the Hurricanes on Thursday, choosing Miami over interest from several high-major programs. Udeh spent this past season at TCU, where he averaged 6.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting an efficient 63.4% from the field in 26.6 minutes per outing.
Prior to his time in Fort Worth, Udeh played his freshman year at Kansas, where he was part of a loaded Jayhawks roster and showed flashes of his defensive upside. Now, he’s headed to South Florida to anchor the paint for head coach Jai Lucas, who is quickly reshaping the Hurricanes.
Ernest Udeh Jr. was one of the top frontcourt prospects in the country coming out of high school. A native of Orlando, Florida, he starred at Dr. Phillips High School and played on the AAU circuit with Southeast Elite. He earned McDonald’s All-American honors in 2022 and was ranked as the No. 29 overall player and No. 7 center in the nation, per the On3 Industry Rankings.
Udeh’s college career began at Kansas, where he struggled to find consistent minutes behind veterans, but his efficiency and rim protection stood out in limited action. A move to TCU for his sophomore and junior seasons offered more opportunity and he’s still viewed as a player with massive upside — particularly on the defensive end.
At Miami, Udeh will likely be asked to do what he does best: protect the rim, rebound, and finish around the basket. Udeh is the third major portal addition for Miami this offseason, joining Michigan guard Tre Donaldson and Indiana forward Malik Reneau. All three players bring high-level experience, and in Udeh’s case, the size and athleticism that Miami lacked in key moments last season.
With Udeh patrolling the paint, Donaldson organizing the offense, and Reneau operating as a versatile scoring forward, the Hurricanes have a strong core forming.