The Miami Hurricanes and coach Jai Lucas are returning one of their top players next season
In the transfer portal era, it's becoming tougher to keep players.
They begin to look for more playing time and higher NIL days once the season ends. The Miami Hurricanes do not have to worry about that with freshman guard Dante Allen. He is reportedly returning to Coral Gables, Fla., for another season, according Jeff Goodman of The Field of 68.
Allen started 18 games this season as a freshman. He emerged late, becoming a starter during the postseason. Allen is a great addition to a team that overachieved. Coach Jai Lucas led them to a 26-9 record and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The Hurricanes lost to the Purdue Boilermakers in the second round.
Allen coming back is huge news for Miami, which knows all about players transferring. Despite making the 2023 Final Four, the Hurricanes had zero players on the roster return the following the season. It was so frustrating it led longtime coach Jim Larranaga to retire from coaching because he had enough of the transfer portal.
Under Lucas, the Hurricanes now have some young blood in control on the sideline. Like Larranaga, Lucas is a players' coach. He has earned an early reputation for developing great relationships with his team.
Nothing showed that more than his post-game speech after they were eliminated by the Boilermakers. Lucas teared up often during the three-minute clip posted on social media.
"I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart," Lucas said, tearing up. "Y'all believed in me, took care of me ... Nothing but love, always. I will believe in y'all forever. These moments are hard, getting to the tournament, winning in the tournament. It's tough but I just to make sure I say this to y'all: Any thing y'all ever need from me, I'm here for you. It don't matter, whatever."
The 19-game turnaround in Lucas' first year is the most in NCAA history. He did it with a mostly revamped roster. So imagine what could happen with the Hurricanes program if it continues to keep players like Allen coming back instead of chasing other opportunities across the country.
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Shandel Richardson is the publisher of UCFRoundtable. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com