Coach Jai Lucas bolsters the Miami Hurricanes' roster with elite rim protection and perimeter sharpshooters, securing a top-tier national ranking to challenge the ACC’s powerhouse programs this upcoming season.
MIAMI, Fla. – Part of Jai Lucas’s historic turnaround with the Miami Hurricanes men’s basketball program as a first-year head coach was bringing a handful of impactful veterans. Among the six transfer portal newcomers were center Ernest Udeh Jr. (senior), guard Tru Washington (junior), forward Malik Reneau (senior), and guard Tre Donaldson (senior).
Each of them wound up having career seasons with “The U,” including a few All-Atlantic Coast Conference honorees. Despite just one-year tenures – Udeh Jr., Reneau, and Donaldson declaring for the upcoming NBA Draft and Washington transferring to Xavier University – they left the program better than it was founded.
In an effort to build off a 26-9 season, the Hurricanes first retained guard Dante Allen and forward Shelton Henderson for their sophomore seasons. Once that was taken care of, coach Lucas could handle the rest of the roster. He immediately struck gold by signing transfers junior center Somto Cyril (Georgia) and sophomore guard Acaden Lewis (Villanova).
Alongside them, the Hurricanes added the following players:
- Junior forward DeSean Goode (Robert Morris transfer)
- Freshman forward Caleb Gaskins (High school recruit)
- Senior guard Nick Dorn (Indiana transfer)
- Graduate student guard Brent Bland (Saint Peter’s transfer)
- Freshman forward Chris Birden Jr. (High school recruit)
- Senior guard Quin Berger (Bucknell transfer)
Following Milan Momcilovic’s commitment to Kentucky, previously with the Iowa Hawkeyes, ESPN ranked the 2026-27 men’s basketball transfer classes. Staff writer and insider Jeff Borzello put the Hurricanes at No. 7 – second best among ACC programs. He highlighted Cyril and Lewis as upgrades to replace Reneau and Donaldson.
The Hurricanes have a one-two punch with both top-market transfers, along with much-needed three-point shooting.
Cyril was among men’s college basketball's best rim protectors – leading the Southeastern Conference with 2.2 blocks. Lewis finished top 50 in assists (5.3) per game. Goode, who was named the 2025-26 Horizon Player of the Year, Dorn, and Bland shot over 35 percent from behind the arc last season.
The Hurricanes have talent and depth – a combination meant to compete. Even the schedule is proof that coach Lucas is ready to lead the program through a gauntlet of likely preseason-ranked opponents: Florida, Texas, Alabama, Duke, North Carolina, and Louisville.
Around the Coral Gables campus, basketball – similar to baseball and football – is starting to be relevant again. The Hurricanes are still in the early process of climbing the ranks on the court, but coach Lucas is leading the rebuild in the right direction.
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Anthony Aguirre is the Miami Hurricanes beat writer for Roundtable Sports. Contact info: [email protected] | 305-987-3290 | Follow on Instagram/X: @AnthonyA_Sports
