INTEL & ANALYSIS: A full overview of Miami Hurricanes basketball recruiting 

Miami men’s basketball tips off the Jai Lucas era in just under three months with a matchup against in-state Jacksonville, and the Hurricanes’ full, 13-man scholarship roster is enrolled at UM and already having off-season workouts to begin for the official start of preseason practice on September 22.

“I like our team. I feel good,” Lucas saidt. “We have to continue to grow, continue to get better, but we built a good foundation over the summer, a good base.”

Building the 2025-26 was a whirlwind experience. But now with the time to evaluate talent and build relationships, Lucas and his staff have hit the ground running on the recruiting trail to build the future. Several blue-chip prospects have taken official visits to Miami in recent weeks, and many more are set to follow and take their official visits with the Hurricanes in the coming days.

Here’s a full breakdown of the recruits that Miami is going after so far in the 2026 class, along with corresponding scouting reports to provide additional context on each player.

Brandon McCoy Jr.

Headlining this recruiting intel wrap-up, CaneSport has learned that Sierra Canyon (Calif.) combo guard Brandon McCoy Jr., Rivals’ No. 2 overall player in the 2026 class, is expected to take an official visit to Miami the weekend of Sept. 20.

This is massively positive news for the Hurricanes, as McCoy was previously not publicly linked to Miami.

McCoy is fresh off an official visit to Arkansas. He also took an official visit to Duke in November 2024. Alabama, Kansas, Michigan, NC State, and USC are also schools to watch out for with McCoy, according to On3/Rivals National Basketball Reporter Joe Tipton.

Scouting Report

College coaches love the way McCoy competes on the defensive end. Equipped with a sturdy 6-foot-4 frame and a plus wingspan, McCoy is an ultra-active on-ball defender who projects as a potentially elite point-of-attack defender at the collegiate level. He averaged nearly two stocks (steals plus blocks) per game during the Nike EYBL Peach Jam tournament in July. McCoy plays passing lanes well and is a very impressive weakside rim protector at his size. One of the reasons why McCoy is so adept at blocking shots as a guard is how quickly he’s able to get up and not just how high he can jump (which is already pretty high). This skill shows in his rebounding ability. McCoy averaged 6.4 rebounds per game during Peach Jam, and he’s a constant presence on the offensive glass with his putback ability. On the offensive end of the floor, McCoy is a physical driver. Like on defense, McCoy knows how to use his frame to his advantage to create pockets of space when driving and finishing at the basket. He’s crafty and possesses a soft touch near the basket. McCoy shot 6-for-18 from deep during the five-game Peach Jam sample size with smooth mechanics. We expect his shooting ability to continue developing, which will be crucial for him, as his low assist numbers suggest that he could end up as more of a two-guard rather than a true point guard. Shades of Jrue Holiday.

Dylan Mingo

Dylan Mingo, a crafty 6-foot-5 guard out of New York’s Long Island Lutheran, recently took an official visit to Miami the weekend of August 30. CaneSport spotted him with current players on the Hurricanes’ roster and the coaching staff on August 31 as Miami football took on Notre Dame at Hard Rock Stadium.

The No. 3 overall prospect and top-ranked point guard has been recruited to Miami by Lucas, as well as associate coach Erik Pastrana, who collectively have been preaching to Mingo about the advantages of the Hurricanes’ guard-friendly system. 

“Coach Jai Lucas talks a lot about their guards, and the guard pretty much excelling in their system, and I’m a guard, so I’ll probably excel in a guard system,” Mingo told CaneSport.

Mingo has also taken official visits to Washington and UConn. He also has an official visit to Alabama set up for the weekend of Sept. 13. This isn’t the only recruiting battle where Miami is going head-to-head with Alabama. Jaxon Richardson is another.

Scouting Report

As the sport of basketball continues to favor positional size, Mingo fits the mold of what a modern pro point guard looks like at a lengthy 6-foot-5. He’s a skilled ball handler with exceptional feel in the pick-and-roll game. Mingo is a solid driver, although we would categorize him as more of a crafty finisher than an explosive one. His 1.14 assist-to-turnover ratio from the EYBL regular season wasn’t spectacular, but we like his playmaking potential, as he’s an accurate passer with both hands. Mingo’s biggest question mark on offense is his shooting. He shot just 25.6% from deep on 3.3 attempts per game during the grassroots regular season. His shot off the catch likely needs to be tweaked, as he brings the ball down near his waist before getting into the rest of his jump shot, although his mechanics did seem to improve during the EYBL campaign compared to his high school season. Mingo is a very high IQ defender with legit defensive playmaking potential. He’s at his best reading passing lanes and averaged 2.3 steals per game in circuit play. Mingo is also a willing and productive rebounder at his position. He would excel the most in an offensive system that is centered around the drive-and-kick. 

Caleb Gaskins

Ever since Lucas and Miami Columbus head coach Andrew Moran were hired by the Hurricanes, Caleb Gaskins – who played for Moran at Columbus and on the Nightrydas Elite EYBL squad – has been connected with Miami.

Gaskins took an unofficial visit to Miami in the summer, and he’ll be back on campus for an official visit with the Hurricanes this upcoming weekend. This will kick off a string of official visits for Gaskins, who will check out Texas, Texas A&M, Florida and Ole Miss in the coming weeks.

We’d give a slight lean to Miami here, but we’ll get a better idea of where Gaskins is favoring after this string of official visits.

Scouting Report

Gaskins has a solid all-around skill set, and while he doesn’t project as a lead offensive engine, he has the makings of a very steady connective piece at the collegiate and eventually the professional level. At 6-foot-8, Gaskins’ frame is more filled out than the majority of other players at his height, granting him the ability to battle with larger players in the low post. Defensively, he can guard multiple positions. We truly think he has the potential to at the very least keep up with any player, regardless of position, but he’ll likely spend most of his time on defense matched up against wings. Gaskins runs the floor well on both ends, as he’s a threat for chasedown blocks on defense and above-the-rim finishes on offense. In the half court, Gaskins looks the smoothest working off the ball, finding pockets of space to flash and get into his high-finishing mid range shot. Like many other forwards at this stage of development, three-point shooting will be Gaskins’ swing skill. If he can improve from where he is now (23.3% 3FG during the EYBL regular season on nearly three attempts per game) to around the 35% from deep range on decent volume, Gaskins will be coveted as a future high-end role player come draft time.

Austin Goosby

Four-star Melissa (Texas) shooting guard Austin Goosby took his official visit the weekend of August 22, which followed his trip to SMU. Most recently, Goosby took official visits to Duke and Texas, and he has trips lined up in the coming weeks to Baylor and BYU.

The home-state Longhorns do hold one unique advantage in his recruitment. Goosby’s brother, Trevor Goosby, has been an offensive tackle at Texas since 2023. Goosby has also visited Texas on four occasions, more than any other school.

Scouting Report

As one of the more impressive vertical athletes that Miami is targeting in the 2026 cycle, Goosby finishes high above the rim on a lot of his drives. This leaping ability, combined with great timing, allows him to block shots at a high rate (1.5 per game during the EYBL regular season). Goosby is also a great cutter and knows how to get himself easy buckets by finding the soft spots of the defense. He has some isolation ability, but he’s going to have to get stronger and a tad bit quicker at changing speeds and better at shifting his weight to really tap into his full potential on that front but there’s a solid foundation there. His 27.9% three-point shooting clip surprised us a bit because his smooth mechanics and confidence from behind the arc suggest that he’s a more efficient shooter. We expect this percentage to climb, as he was nearly an 80% shooter from the free-throw line. We also like how he’s a willing and smart passing when driving downhill.

Jaxon Richardson

The most recent player to take a trip to UM, Miami Columbus wing Jaxon Richardson was seen by CaneSport before the Hurricanes’ recent football game against Bethune-Cookman amid his official visit weekend to Miami.

Richardson is the son of former NBA shooting guard Jason Richardson and the brother of Orlando Magic rookie guard Jase Richardson. The Hurricanes hold the proximity advantage for Richardson, as he’s entering his third season with Columbus.

Richardson, a top-25 player in his class per the Rivals Industry Ranking, has official visits lined up to Alabama and Ole Miss in September.

Scouting Report

Like his father was, Richardson is an extremely explosive vertical athlete. He’s at his best when running the floor in transition. Richardson has made strides as a rebounder, averaging a team-high 6.9 boards per game during the EYBL regular season. He also utilizes his leaping ability well as a shot-blocker. The other areas of Richardson’s offensive game are a bit raw. He’s a poor three-point shooter (21.4%) and shot just 51.7% from the free-throw line. Both of those numbers will have to improve. As Richardson enters a college strength program, he’ll need to work on finishing through contact, as he tends to lose a bit of that incredible vertical pop when going up with a defender. Richardson has a high ceiling as a premier play finisher, but it may take a couple years of development for him to reach this potential. Shades of Obi Toppin.

Deron Rippey Jr.

Blair Academy (N.J.) point guard Deron Rippey Jr. has a stacked slate of official visits that he’s taken or will take in the next couple of months, featuring the likes of Miami, North Carolina, Texas, Syracuse, Kentucky, Duke, Tennessee, North Carolina State and potentially Alabama.

His visit to Miami on Aug. 27 kicked off this official visit schedule. 

“Great visit with a very successful staff,” Rippey told CaneSport about his Miami visit. “I love their player development system and the pitch for me and my family. They have been very consistent this summer/fall.”

Scouting Report

Rippey has one of the highest ceilings of any guards in the 2026 cycle, despite standing at a modest 6-foot-2. He’s a plus athlete in several ways. Rippey can finish over defenders at the basket thanks to his verticality and can also start and stop on a dime. He’s a difficult player to guard on ball screens. Rippey’s a confident, high-volume three-point shooter with near-NBA range, so going under ball screens wouldn’t be smart. His quick first step and tight ball handle allow him to create space in the pick-and-roll and put defenders who decide to go over screens and trail Rippey in unfavorable positions. Rippey finished the Adidas 3SSB circuit season third in assists per game, so he’s a willing passer in both the half court and in transition. Riippey’s height could lead to mismatches on the defensive end, but his compact build allows him to play above his size. His 2.1 steals per game during the circuit season is also a plus. 

Kevin Thomas

Miami, FSU and Auburn are battling it out for Montverde Academy (Fla.) small forward Kevin Thomas, who’s rated as a four-star prospect by the Rivals Industry Rankings.

Thomas, who previously played at local Sagemont Prep (Fla.) before announcing his transfer to Montverde, has already taken an official visit with the Seminoles. He’ll take his next official visit on Sept. 27 before wrapping up this slate with an October trip to Auburn.

FSU’s staff is really prioritizing Thomas this cycle. We’ll see how things shake out after his last two visits.

Scouting Report

Kevin Thomas’ move to Montverde should help grow his offensive game, which has already improved greatly over the last couple of years. Thomas was second on SOH Elite in points per game on the Under Armour Next circuit, although his efficiency wasn’t great. Thomas’ blend of length and athleticism suggests that he has the tools to be a solid two-way player at the collegiate level. His three-point shot continues to improve. He shot 32% from deep during grassroots season, although he did so on less than two attempts per game.

Latrell Allmond

Last we heard from Petersburg (Va.) forward Latrell Allmond, he was in the process of setting up an official visit with the Hurricanes. Almost a month from then, no official visit has been scheduled yet.

Miami’s recruitment of Allmond began when associate coach Charlton Young was brought in from Missouri, where the coach was previously recruiting him.

“Coach C.Y. Young, who’s been heavily recruiting me down there, he’s been following me over for the past year or so, because he was at Missouri, and he followed me down there when he got to Miami,” Allmond told CaneSport in August. “It’s been mad love coming down there from that area.”

The top-30 prospect took an official visit to Indiana in the summer and was set to take an official visit to Kansas in late August before a family matter caused Allmond to postpone the visit.

Scouting Report

While Allmond will likely play power forward in college, he has the perimeter skills and athleticism to play small forward and the height and frame to play some at center. He runs the floor well and is an athletic finisher in transition. Allmond is often utilized as a screener, where he’s able to flash his athleticism as a roller and his improving jump shot as a popper. While he’s likely not going to be the engine of an offense, he’s shown enough self-creation ability to suggest that he’ll be more than just a connective piece. Allmond is a sticky on-ball defender who can protect the rim as a weakside defender in some instances. He also fights for position down low as a rebounder. He has a high floor because of his well-rounded skillset. Allmond reminds us a bit of Jarace Walker, who was impactful in his one year at Houston before getting selected eighth overall in the 2023 NBA Draft.