NCAA Basketball Recruiting: Ranking No. 1 prospect Jalen Duren’s final 5 options

Miami Hurricanes

Potentially the team with the biggest need for the services of a reclassified Duren, Miami has gone through a tumultuous offseason watching a large portion of their talent enter the transfer portal. While the Hurricanes did benefit from the transfer of DePaul’s Charlie Moore, the team lost productive pieces in Chris Lykes, Elijah Olaniyi, Earl Timberlake, and Nysier Brooks. The moves come on the back end of a tough stretch by the program being able to put forth a fully healthy product over the last several seasons.

Now that Brooks, the team’s only true rim protector on last year’s roster, is gone the Hurricanes really need Duren to anchor that end of the floor. Despite their injuries and transfers in 2020, Miami was able to at least stay in games and utilize some magic to pull off tough wins in the ACC with a reliable center in the rotation. Duren’s 2.2 blocks per game at Montverde Academy last season are a sure sign his translation as an immediate impact player protecting the paint will help to drive this team higher in conference play.

A potential ace up Miami’s sleeve is the recent hiring of former Philadelphia Roman Catholic HS coach DJ Irving to its staff. Irving already has an established connection with Duren prior to his departure from the school and has a good understanding of how to not only utilize him at this level but also developing him further for the NBA.

Aside from one of the friendlier playing situations on his list, doing so under a familiar staff and with coaches who have experience getting players to the NBA is something Duren has to be evaluated here with the Hurricanes.