The LJ Cason-to-Miami rumors make too much sense for Jai Lucas not to act

There was a major announcement in college basketball late Monday night and if Jai Lucas had been asleep, it might have woken him up immediately.

Michigan guard LJ Cason announced he would enter the transfer portal. Cason, a former three-star prospect, served as a sixth man for the Wolverines, averaging 8.4 points and 2.4 assists this past season for the national champions. He appeared in 17 games before suffering a torn ACL against Illinois on February 27.

Cason, who is from Lakeland, Florida, originally committed to Florida Atlantic out of high school, but changed his pledge to Michigan when Dusty May left the Owls for the Wolverines. May left Michigan on June 23 to take the Dallas Mavericks job and the Wolverines recently promoted top assistant Mike Boynton Jr. 

Jai Lucas should be very interested in Michigan guard LJ Cason

There is a lot of speculation behind Cason's move and that it could bring him closer to home, which puts Lucas and the Miami Hurricanes in the picture. As things continue to come into focus, we'll get a clearer answer, but just looking at things on the surface, there's no question that Cason would be an amazing addition to the Hurricanes roster. 

READ MORE: Jai Lucas has built a contender at Miami, and post-portal transfer rankings prove it

The injury puts Cason's availability for the upcoming season in question. With the new five-for-five rule going into effect, the rising junior is a good bet to miss most, if not all the 2026–27 year. Dusty May all but said that was the likely outcome when he spoke to Jeff Goodman from The Field of 68 about a week before deciding to go to the NBA.

"Essentially, if the 5-in-5 goes into play, and he's going to lose a year regardless, he'll be back practicing probably in November," May said. "He's doing very well. He's strong. So that would give him a couple of months to practice. We'll bring him back slowly. Whatever is best for him. If he can preserve the year we would probably hold him out." 

Whether Cason is available to play this season or not, he makes too much sense for Miami down the road. It's likely that Villanova transfer Acaden Lewis and sophomore Dante Allen will be the starting backcourt for the Hurricanes this season with Indiana transfer Nick Dorn also in the picture. If Cason joins the fold, it gives Lucas a ton of options at guard. He could slide into a major reserve role in the second half of the season or give Lucas more versatility with his lineups to possibly use three guards (health permitting). It all makes too much sense not to happen. 

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