Coach Jai Lucas revamped the Miami Hurricanes men's basketball roster with a top-10 transfer class, landing elite rim protector Somto Cyril and dynamic playmaker Acaden Lewis to fuel another deep postseason run.
Miami, FL. – The Miami Hurricanes men’s basketball program looks to build off the incredible success from this past season. They finished with a 26-9 overall record, 13-5 in Atlantic Coast Conference play, and reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2023 Final Four run. Despite a short-lived appearance, coach Jai Lucas looks to take the program even further. He landed top-market transfer portal recruits in guards Acaden Lewis and Somto Cyril, plus forward DeSean Goode, shooting guards Nick Dorn and Brent Bland, and point guard Quin Berger.
Despite seven departures, plus three players declaring for the 2026 NBA Draft, coach Lucas successfully revamped the roster. The Hurricanes have a top-10 transfer portal class between On3 and 247Sports. They’re projected to be in the Associated Press’ preseason rankings and surpass last year’s success.
According to On3’s Joe Tipton, the Hurricanes are listed as the fifth-best transfer portal winners by additions. They landed behind the Louisville Cardinals, Texas Longhorns, Indiana Hoosiers, and Tennessee Volunteers.
Cyril has a case to be the biggest acquisition of the program’s offseason, following a strong defensive season in the Southeastern Conference. He averaged 9.3 points on 75.9 percent shooting, 5.3 rebounds, and ranked 13th nationally with 2.2 blocks in 33 games, including 32 starts with the Georgia Bulldogs. The 20-year-old earned SEC All-Defensive honors. Cyril is one of the most elite rim protectors in college basketball, poses as a lob threat, and can establish a presence in the paint offensively.
Lewis originally declared for the 2026 NBA Draft, but entered the transfer portal to maintain NCAA eligibility. He’s coming off a strong freshman season with the Villanova Wildcats: 12.2 points on 45.6 percent shooting, three rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.9 steals in 33 games, all starts. Lewis is an athletic, shifty guard who looks to score or playmake by getting in the paint.
The 20-year-old earned All-Big East Second Team honors and All-Freshman Team. However, Lewis was inefficient from behind the arc, shooting at 27 percent on the season. If he manages to improve from long range while being one of college basketball’s best facilitators, it unlocks more possibilities for the Hurricanes’ offense.
Goode could emerge as the biggest surprise for the program. The reigning Horizon Player of the Year is listed at 6-8 and shot 57.1 percent from behind the arc in 33 games, including 32 starts, this past season with the Robert Morris Colonials. Goode will have an opportunity to compete for a starting role at power forward or at least earn consistent minutes in a reserve role.
Dorn, Bland, and Berger could serve as rotation players, but whether or not they can surpass expectations will be revealed throughout the new season.
The Hurricanes still have a couple of open roster spots left to fill, but coach Lucas is already looking to compete among the nation’s best.
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