Jai Lucas set to become next men’s basketball coach

DMoney

Feb 22, 2025 1 min read

Duke associate head coach Jai Lucas is set to become the next men’s basketball coach at Miami, sources tell Peter Ariz of CanesInSight.

Lucas, 36, is considered of the nation’s top assistant coaches and recruiters. He joined head coach Jon Scheyer’s staff in May 2022 as assistant coach and was promoted to associate head coach in June 2023.

Prior to Duke, Lucas served as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Kentucky.

The son of NBA veteran John Lucas II, Jai played PG for the Texas Longhorns and the Florida Gators. He is credited as lead recruiter for five stars Cooper Flagg, the Boozer twins, Cason Wallace, Shaedon Sharpe, Kon Knueppel, TyTy Washington, Daimion Collins, Khaman Maluach, and Shelton Henderson.

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Peter Ariz

Yesterday at 4:18 PM

I’m expecting Lucas to be introduced as Miami’s coach next week, in Coral Gables.

TheOriginalCane

Yesterday at 4:27 PM

Peter Ariz said:
I’m expecting Lucas to be introduced as Miami’s coach next week, in Coral Gables.

Oh well...

I root for my alma mater, regardless.

A
AmherstCane

Yesterday at 7:53 PM

Fluffhead said:
Who drove this decision?

Three people.

I can give you no mas info.

Peter Ariz

Yesterday at 8:36 PM

Peter Ariz said:
I’m expecting Lucas to be introduced as Miami’s coach next week, in Coral Gables.

Monday.

Yesterday at 8:50 PM

Gables Canes said:
Some interesting names on this list. Thoughts?

No Will Wade or Ben McCollum? Or Richard Pitino?!?!? Crazy.

I think Cassell will get the job

Last edited: Yesterday at 8:56 PM

Yesterday at 8:53 PM

Trinton Breeze said:
Andrew Moran is expected to be on the staff when Jai Lucas is named HC.

A target Miami and Andrew Moran could go after would be five-star forward Caleb Gaskins as Moran coached him in both AAU and High School.

Two AAU programs that you could see an influx of players to Miami from are Nightrydas Elite ( Miami ) as Moran coached for them. The other is JL3 Elite ( Houston ) as this is ran by Jai Lucas father, John Lucas.

The road blocks to getting players from those programs could be they are both Nike affiliated programs while Miami is adidas sponsored.

Pretty sure JL3 is run by Lucas’ brother — not his father who is JL2

One9

Yesterday at 9:20 PM

Gables Canes said:
Some interesting names on this list. Thoughts?

JZCane0825

Yesterday at 9:28 PM

Pretty sad that FSU can’t outbid George Mason for a coach

canesstevealum08

Today at 9:21 AM

King of Allapattah said:
I think there's an outside chance he gets 2nd or 3rd assistant, but more likely he gets DOBO or a player development role. However, knowing Andrew, I'm not too sure he'd leave Columbus unless it was lucrative or he felt it would be a major step up in his career. So, I wouldn't be too surprised if he indeed ended up at the front of the bench come next Fall. I know he's had opportunities in the past to move into the college sector, but right opportunity never presented itself. A seat in one of the top 3 assistants chairs for the hometown team may not be a bad look for him.

When you say lucrative, you don’t think an ops would pay him more than Columbus by about 40,000 a year?

King of Allapattah

23 minutes ago

canesstevealum08 said:
When you say lucrative, you don’t think an ops would pay him more than Columbus by about 40,000 a year?

Between coaching, camps and individual training, Moran is pulling in well over 6 figures at Columbus. I could be wrong but don't think an Ops position or DOBO position at Miami would pay considerably more than that, if at all. Keep in mind, some of the same guys that have been footing the bill at Columbus are the same guys getting him the job at Miami.