1 day Ago By Shane Shoemaker
With Jai Lucas settling in as the new head coach of the Miami Hurricanes basketball program, the transfer portal is shaping up to be a crucial tool in his first offseason at the helm. Lucas has already seen an exodus of talent following the departure of Jim Larrañaga, including former five-star recruit Jalil Bethea , the highest-rated player in Miami history. Bethea is one of eight Hurricanes to enter the portal so far.
While it’s still possible some of those players could return, Lucas and his staff are expected to be active in replenishing the roster. MORE: Miami Hurricanes lose veteran guard as Jai Lucas suffers another transfer portal loss So far, Miami has yet to make any portal additions. But that could soon change.
According to Peter Ariz of CanesInsight , the Hurricanes are considered a favorite to land former Kansas and TCU big man Ernest Udeh Jr. The 6-foot-11, 260-pound forward is regarded as one of the most versatile and talented big men available in this transfer cycle. He’s also one of the most sought-after.
Udeh was ranked the No. 32 overall prospect and No. 7 center in the 2023 class, per 247Sports .
A former McDonald’s All-American, Udeh played his freshman season at Kansas before transferring to TCU, where he averaged 6.6 points and 7.5 rebounds per game this season.
Known for his length and mobility, Udeh has the defensive versatility to guard all five positions. For Miami, a potential addition like Udeh would be significant following one of the worst seasons in program history. The Hurricanes finished 7-24 in 2023-24, placing last in the ACC, having only three conference wins.
Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp Lucas faces a tall task in Year 1, but if the Hurricanes can close on a player like Udeh, it would mark an important first win on the recruiting trail and signal Miami’s intent to bounce back quickly..
