Duke associate head coach Jai Lucas reportedly could be named the head coach at Miami in a matter of days. The decision-makers in Coral Gables have long viewed Lucas as the ideal replacement for Jim Larrañaga after the long-time head coach resigned from his post in late December. So, as the No. 2 Blue Devils gear up for a potential run at the program’s sixth national championship and the first under Jon Scheyer, Lucas’s priorities are elsewhere.
A key member of Scheyer’s staff in Durham, Lucas is considered to be an elite recruiter, who helped Duke assemble the top-ranked high school class in the country in both 2024 and 2025. While recruiting is his superpower for the Blue Devils he will be missed on the sidelines if he departs at the culmination of the regular season.
Duke assistant coach Jai Lucas reportedly preparing to leave for Miami
Miami’s season finale is next Saturday, March, 8, as the Hurricanes host NC State at Noon ET. Finishing out the season under interim head coach Bill Courtney, Miami is in last place in the 18-team conference at 6-23 (2-16) and will miss the 15-team ACC Tournament. Therefore, the 36-year-old Lucas can get a jump on his first head coaching job in Division 1 college basketball, but it seems that he’s already begun.
Lucas is expected to hire Miami Columbus High coach Andrew Moran to his staff along with Bruiser Flint, an Arkansas assistant coach who spent time with Lucas on the coaching staff at Kentucky from 2020-22 under John Calipari.
If losing Lucas for a postseason run wasn’t bad enough, the addition of Moran to the staff in Coral Gables could signal a big shift in the 2025 recruiting class. Moran has won three straight state titles at Miami Columbus and looks poised to win a fourth with the help of Cameron and Cayden Boozer, twin sons of former Duke and NBA star Carlos Boozer.
Cameron, a 6-foot-9 power forward is the No. 3 player in the 2025 class while Cayden, a 6-foot-4 point guard is ranked No. 24. Lucas was the primary recruiter of the Boozer twins, who were both heavily recruited by the previous staff at Miami. Now, with Lucas and potentially Moran, their high school coach, teaming up with the Hurricanes, the Boozers may look to get out of their deals with Duke and flip to follow Lucas to Miami.
Scheyer’s priorities are on winning a national championship this spring, but Miami has forced him to keep an eye out for replacements on his coaching staff and has reignited a heated recruiting battle for two of the best players in the country. The 37-year-old third-year head coach has already proven himself as a capable replacement for Coach K, but this March, with one of the best teams in the country and the presumptive No. 1 NBA Draft pick on his roster, will be his biggest test so far.