Coach Jai Lucas sees a star in guard Tre Donaldson, praising his leadership and transformation into a "great guard" key to the Miami Hurricanes' winning culture.
The Miami Hurricanes men's basketball squad continues to find success against ACC opponents, as the most recent victory came against the Stanford Cardinal on Wednesday night, with a final score of 79-70. Jai Lucas is establishing a new culture in his first year as a head coach, with senior guard Tre Donaldson as one of the vocal pieces. He demands leadership from the 22-year-old, setting an example for the rest of the team.
Lucas has been around basketball since his youth because of his father, John Lucas II, being a former player and head coach in the NBA, currently in a front office role with the Houston Rockets. He's been around greatness and sees that in Donaldson.
"I think he's had a great year so far," Lucas said following the victory over the Cardinal. "You always need a good guard. He's turning from a good guard to a great guard for us."
Donaldson is on pace to have a career season, currently averaging 16.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 1.3 steals while shooting 46.7 percent from the field, 34.4 percent from three-point range, playing in all 21 games. He leads the team in minutes per game, 33.1.
Despite recent offensive struggles, most notably against the Clemson Tigers and Florida State Seminoles, the veteran guard always seeks to leave an impact. Whether it's by playmaking, defense, or hitting critical shots through a slump, the effort is never a question.
In the last couple of games against the Cardinal and Syracuse Orange, Donaldson has finished with efficient offensive numbers.
It's worth noting that his ability to adapt is strong. The Tallahassee, Florida, native has been a starter since the beginning of the season, but came off the bench in the victory against the Oranges. It's a great sign of maturity and prioritizing the team's success ahead of himself.
Dating back to ACC Tipoff Media Day, Lucas knew that Donaldson would be a valuable piece in rebuilding the Hurricanes' basketball program. He emphasized the recruiting process with him, alongside senior forward Malik Reneau and senior center Ernest Udeh Jr. from the transfer portal.
"I knew I wanted these three [Donaldson, Reneau, and Udeh Jr.] to be the core," Lucas said. "Especially in building the first year of this program as well."
The Hurricanes sit with a 17-4 overall record, 6-2 against ACC opponents. Donaldson is helping to set the program up for success beyond his one-year tenure. They will host the California Golden Bears on Saturday before traveling to the Northeast, preparing to face the Boston College Eagles.
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