Miami Basketball: 3 reasons why Hurricanes will improve for 2020-21 season

1. Why Miami Basketball will improve next season – Addition of Earl Timberlake Jr.

Larranaga worked his magic again and signed an incredibly athletic talent to improve his team. DeMatha Catholic High School standout Earl Timberlake Jr. poured in 17.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and one steal per game for Team Durant on last year’s Nike EYBL Circuit. His physical frame and length lead to consistent plays on both ends of the floor, but it’s his explosive dunks that will give Canes fans flashbacks of Lonnie Walker IV.

Timberlake’s addition allows Miami to effectively extend its defense and put pressure on positions 1-5. He’s a guy that will stick to a ball-handler’s hip pocket and speed him up leading to turnovers. Furthermore, his length will clog passing lanes and act as a deterrent for skip passes around the perimeter. This could be huge for the Hurricanes who were 232nd nationally in steals last season.

While his consistency hitting on all three levels needs improvement, Timberlake is a guy defenses have to account for. He explodes at the rim, is creative with his finishing ability, and will draw tons of trips to the foul line. The Hurricanes have not been aggressive enough attacking the rim over the last two2 years, 258th in 2018, and 279th in 2019 for free throw attempts, but that could drastically improve in 2020.

Most importantly Timberlake will crash the glass with reckless abandon and create second-chance opportunities for the Hurricanes to stay in games. He will be able to create more space for Chris Lykes to work and elevate the offensive comfort of everyone else on the floor.