Miami Hurricanes Basketball Faces Key Offseason After Successful First Year Under Coach Jai Lucas

Hurricanes must replace key departures while seeking talent through transfer portal and recruiting

Mar. 25, 2026 at 6:04am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Miami Hurricanes men's basketball team is coming off a successful 26-win season under first-year head coach Jai Lucas, earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament. However, the Hurricanes must now replace three key starters who have exhausted their eligibility. Coach Lucas and his staff will look to the transfer portal and recruiting to reload the roster for another tournament run next season.

Why it matters

The Hurricanes made a significant leap in Lucas' debut season, improving by 19 wins from the previous year. Maintaining that momentum and building on the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2018 is crucial for the long-term trajectory of Miami basketball under the new coaching staff.

The details

Miami must replace the production of seniors Malik Reneau, Tre Donaldson and Ernest Udeh, who combined to average 42.2 points, 19.4 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game. The Hurricanes are expected to be active in the NCAA transfer portal to find immediate-impact replacements, particularly at center and in the backcourt. Coach Lucas also has one five-star recruit, Caleb Gaskins, signed for the 2026 class, but may look to add more high school talent to complement the portal additions.

  • The NCAA transfer portal window opens on April 7, 2026.
  • The 2026-27 season will tip off in November 2026.

The players

Jai Lucas

The head coach of the Miami Hurricanes men's basketball team, who led the program to a successful 26-win season and NCAA Tournament appearance in his debut campaign in 2025-26.

Malik Reneau

A senior starter for the Hurricanes last season who is now departing the program after exhausting his eligibility.

Tre Donaldson

A senior starter for the Hurricanes last season who is now departing the program after exhausting his eligibility.

Ernest Udeh

A senior starter for the Hurricanes last season who is now departing the program after exhausting his eligibility.

Caleb Gaskins

A five-star forward recruit who has committed to join the Hurricanes' 2026 recruiting class.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“It's my job to keep it going and keep it rolling, where this time next year we're talking about going to the Sweet 16, not just the season ending. So that's the goal, that's the plan, until you win National Championships.”

— Jai Lucas, Head Coach

What’s next

The Hurricanes will look to add talent through the NCAA transfer portal, which opens on April 7, 2026, as well as potentially add more high school recruits to their 2026 class alongside the committed five-star Caleb Gaskins.

The takeaway

After a breakthrough season that saw the Miami Hurricanes return to the NCAA Tournament, the program faces an important offseason as it looks to replace key departures and build on the momentum established in head coach Jai Lucas' debut year. The Hurricanes' ability to reload through the transfer portal and recruiting will be crucial in determining if they can sustain their success and make another tournament run in 2026-27.