The Miami basketball team signed three-star combo guard Divine Ugochukwu on Saturday. Miami returns guards Paul Djobet and Nijel Pack, added Jalen Blackmon as a transfer from Stetson and signed Jalil Bethea and Austin Swartz in the 2024 class. Ugochukwu adds depth and is Miami's potential point guard of the future.
Ugochukwu is the 274th prospect, 35th combo guard and 17th player out of Sugar Land, Clements. In his final two high school seasons, Ugochukwu averaged 17.1 points per game, 4.6 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 1.8 steals per game.
Ugochukwu shot 48.1 percent from the floor, 32.9 percent from on threes, and 76.38 percent on free throws as a junior and senior. Ugochukwu improved from 21.97 percent on three points as a junior to 37.3 percent as a senior. Swartz and Ugochukwu project as the Miami backcourt of the future.
Bethea is a projected 2025 NBA lottery pick and is expected to be one and done. Blackmon and Pack are entering their final season of eligibility in 2024-25. At 6'7, Djobet can play the two-guard or small forward. Miami has the ninth-ranked recruiting class in the 247 Sports composite rankings.
NEWS: 2024 Divine Ugochukwu (@TheDivineUgo) has committed to Miami
— Tobias Bass (@tobias_bass) May 11, 2024
Ugo has been one of my favorite CG’s to watch over the past 4+ years. He can play both guard spots, score in a variety of ways & the tools to be a high-level two-way player
A Great get for the Canes… pic.twitter.com/bcZ9mYpZjR
Baylor, SMU and Texas A&M were the Power Conference schools to offer Ugochukwu. Several mid and low-major programs also offered Ugochokwu. Brandon Jenkins of 247Sports stated Ugochukwu has "sneaky pop...is rangy and a good facilitator." Miami will be able to develop Ugochuwku as a freshman in 2024-25.
Miami is up to 10 players on its 2024-25 roster with the addition of Ugochukwu. The Hurricanes also have returning starting small forward Matthew Cleveland, 6'10 center Lynn Kidd and 6'8 forward Brandon Johnson from East Carolina as a transfer additions and 6'8 forward Isiah Johnson Arigu as a 2024 signee.
Miami has three scholarships open on the 2024–25 roster. Expect Jim Larranaga and his staff to search for transfers to improve depth and fill out the roster for next season. Miami will look drastically different in 2024–25 than Cleveland, Djobet and Pack returning after losing seven transfers.