Sources: Duke’s Lucas indications deal to coach Miami

• Jeff BorzelloMar 5, 2025, 05:45 PM ET

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  • Basketball recruiting insider.
  • Joined ESPN in 2014.
  • Graduate of University of Delaware.Duke associate

head coach Jai Lucas has actually signed an offer to become the head males’s basketball coach at Miami, sources informed ESPN on Wednesday.An official announcement is anticipated Thursday morning.Lucas is expected to leave Duke and join Miami after the conclusion of the regular season, sources told ESPN. The No. 2 Blue Devils are predicted to make a 1-seed in the East Area and are one of the leading competitors to win the national championship.Lucas, 36, has actually played an essential function in building Duke’s 27-3 group.

He assisted head coach Jon Scheyer land the nation’s leading recruiting class in 2024, led by No. 1 recruit Cooper Flagg, and 2025, headlined by Cameron Boozer and twin brother Cayden Boozer.Editor’s Picks 2 Associated He has actually likewise helped designer one of the country’s leading defenses

, with Duke ranking in the top five in adjusted protective performance and 2-point field goal portion defense.Scheyer worked with Lucas in 2022 after 2 seasons at Kentucky and 4 seasons at Texas. Lucas is the kid of previous Maryland All-American and No. 1 NBA draft

pick John Lucas II, also a long time NBA coach and assistant. “Definitely he’s a head coach, no question about it, “Scheyer stated of Lucas last month. “It becomes part of why I employed him.

The job he’s done for us has actually been unbelievable … I can tell you, 100%, Jai is an amazing coach. He’s been terrific for these guys. We’ll continue to progress together and figure all that out. But he’s great, guy. All across the board, he’s great. “Lucas is replacing Jim Larrañaga, 75, who stepped down in December in the middle of his 14th season with the Hurricanes. He led

Miami to six NCAA competitions and 4 Sweet 16 looks, consisting of a Final 4 run in 2023. The Hurricanes went 11-6 in NCAA tournament games under Larrañaga, winning two ACC regular-season championships.