This standout guard, pivotal to the Miami Hurricanes' resurgence, now chases his NBA dream, showcasing playmaking and scoring prowess despite draft projections.
The Miami Hurricanes men’s basketball program underwent a historic turnaround. After going 7-24, coach Jai Lucas’ revamped roster went 26-9 overall, finished third in the Atlantic Coast Conference, and reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2023 “Final Four” run. Despite not having a legitimate superstar, the team had competitors and leaders.
One of the players who was a key factor in the Hurricanes’ success was Tre Donaldson. In his lone season with the program, the 22-year-old recorded career-highs across the board. He averaged 16.4 points on 45.4 percent shooting, 35.9 percent from three-point range, 3.6 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 1.4 steals, playing in all 35 games.
Without any extra NCAA eligibility remaining, Donaldson officially declared for the upcoming NBA Draft, according to his announcement via social media. The class is projected to have a great depth of talent, including Cam Boozer, AJ Dybantsa, Caleb Wilson, Darryn Peterson, Mikel Brown Jr., and Thomas Haugh, along with several other highly-touted prospects.
Despite a significant senior outing, the All-ACC guard isn’t projected to hear his name called by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver or Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum.
However, Donaldson will likely participate in workouts with several organizations, an opportunity to leave a lasting impression. He could emerge as a primary candidate to sign a two-way contract.
The Tallahassee, Florida, native improved as a scorer with the Hurricanes, but took strides as a facilitator. Teams that could use his playmaking services and guard depth are the Washington Wizards, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, and New Orleans Pelicans, among others.
Donaldson is listed at 6-3, 198 pounds. He’s quick at attacking the rim, can shoot the midrange, but is inconsistent from behind the arc.
An NBA comparison for him could be New York Knicks guard Jose Alvarado: an undersized guard who can be a pest on the defensive side of the court and get hot on a given night. Donaldson scored a career-high 32 points against the Virginia Tech Hokies, leading the Hurricanes to a 67-66 win.
Also, before joining the Coral Gables program, the 22-year-old won a Big 10 Tournament Championship with the Michigan Wolverines and an SEC Tournament Championship with the Auburn Tigers.
As Donaldson prepares for the next stages of basketball, there will be challenges ahead of him, such as staying on a NBA roster.
Despite playing just one season with the Hurricanes men's basektball program, a significant impact was left in the history books.
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