The Miami Hurricanes pursue elite center Cody Peck, a four-star talent, aiming to bolster their promising young core and future success.
As the Miami Hurricanes men's basketball squad is coming off back-to-back victories over the North Carolina Tar Heels and North Carolina State Wolfpack, both Quad 1 opponents, the future of the program is still in the works. Although coach Jai Lucas is establishing a new standard, there will be no Tre Donaldson, Malik Reneau, or Ernest Udeh Jr. next season due to having no extended NCAA eligibility.
In a time in college sports when players enter the transfer portal at a high rate, retention will be extremely important for the Hurricanes, especially with both five-star freshman forward Shelton Henderson and four-star freshman guard Dante Allen. Building a contender around them is crucial and high school recruiting plays a major role. The program already landed signee forward Caleb Gaskins for next season, but could add another four-star in center Cody Peck.
It was reported on Friday that the North Carolina native is drawn to four schools: the Hurricanes, Tennessee Volunteers, Creighton Bluejays, and Dayton Flyers.
Peck currently attends Davidson Day High School. He's listed at 6-10, 205 pounds. Peck had an official visit with the Hurricanes on Jan. 28. The young center would have an opportunity to play right away as Udeh Jr. is set to depart after this season.
Coach Jai Lucas could help Peck develop into a versatile defender, given his lengthy frame and paint presence as a lob threat and rim protector. Despite weighing 205 pounds, he would benefit from adding more muscle to work better in the post at the college level.
Unlike Udeh Jr. or freshman Salih Altuntas, Peck can handle the ball from anywhere on the court and can create his own shot. He doesn't shy from shooting from behind the arc, but coach Lucas would likely rather have him work more in the paint.
The talent is undeniable, but Peck's development will be a continuous process at the collegiate level. Henderson and Allen needed time to adjust while playing for the Hurricanes, but they have become crucial contributors to the team's current success. He would be a tremendous addition to the program's future.
Coach Lucas has a great list of all-time recruits, especially as an assistant coach with the Duke Blue Devils and Kentucky Wildcats. He landed commitments from Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, Cameron Boozer, Cason Wallace, and Ty Ty Washington. However, as the head coach, the 37-year-old is transforming the Hurricanes into a more attractive basketball destination.
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