Jai Lucas adds two more transfers to UM basketball roster, both have Florida roots
Jai Lucas, the new University of Miami basketball coach, continued to restock the Hurricanes’ roster with the addition of two more transfers. All three players who have signed so far have Florida roots.
Michigan guard Tre Donaldson, a Tallahassee native, and TCU’s Ernest Udeh Jr., a 6-11 center/forward who grew up in Orlando, announced their commitments to UM on social media.
“Florida Boy” Donaldson posted on Instagram with emojis of a palm tree, a U and a hurricane.
“Da Florida boy is Bakk…305” Udeh posted on Instagram.
They will join Indiana University transfer Malik Reneau, a Miami native and 6-9 forward, who was Lucas’ first commit since taking over the Hurricanes program last month.
Donaldson played one season at Michigan after transferring from Auburn. He started all 37 games this season, and averaged a team-high 4.1 assists and 11.3 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. He shot 43 percent from the field and 38 percent from three-point range for the Wolverines, who reached the Sweet 16.
He announced he was leaving Michigan the day after sophomore guard Elliott Cadeau transferred in from North Carolina.
Donaldson was a four-star recruit in football coming out of high school and has one year of collegiate eligibility remaining. He started 10 games as a sophomore at Auburn.
“Tre brings a wealth of postseason experience to our team, having played in multiple NCAA Tournaments and winning the Big Ten Tournament title this year at Michigan,” Lucas said. “He has been in high-pressure moments and has the experience that is needed at the guard position to help us win big games. Tre is a bully and a bruiser when he is in the paint but also has the agility and shooting to play on the perimeter. We are very excited to welcome him to the team.”
Udeh Jr. will also be at his third school after playing for Kansas as a freshman and TCU as a sophomore and junior. He averaged 6.6 points and 7.5 rebounds per game for the Horned Frogs and was a 63 percent shooter.
“Ernest not only has a significant presence and physicality on the court, but also a personality that is really important for us as we start to build a culture here at Miami,” Lucas said. “Ernest is a culture driver who will be an extension of the coaching staff on the court. As a player, he is one of the best rebounders in the country and has the ability to be one of the nation’s elite defenders, as well, so we are excited to have him be a part of the program.”
In 2024-25, Udeh Jr. earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention status with 7.5 rebounds per game and 1.3 blocks. The center led the Horned Frogs in rebounding in 16 games and was a dominant presence in the paint, as 70 percent (77-of-110) of Udeh Jr.’s field goals while at TCU were dunks.
Udeh Jr. spent his freshman season as a Kansas Jayhawk, shooting 75.6 percent from the field, including a Kansas record 21 consecutive made baskets over 17 games from Dec. 1 to Feb. 28
Udeh Jr. was a standout at Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando, earned McDonald’s All-American honors in 2022 and was ranked as the No. 29 overall player and No. 7 center in the nation, in the On3 rankings.
Reneau started 19 of 26 games as a junior for the Hoosiers and was named Honorable Mention All-Big 10.
He averaged a team-high 13.3 points per game along with 5.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists. Reneau shot 55 percent from the floor and 73 percent from the free throw line. He scored 1,013 points in three seasons with IU. He was ranked the No. 31 player in the transfer portal per 247Sports and the fifth-ranked power forward.
“We are very excited that Malik is coming back home to Miami to finish his college career at The U,” Lucas said. “Malik is someone who has played in and won big games for a big-time blueblood program these last three years. We are thrilled to welcome him to the Miami basketball program.”
Meanwhile, Jalil Bethea, who just completed his freshman season at Miami, announced he is transferring to Alabama and Nijel Pack announced he is leaving UM and headed to Oklahoma for his sixth year of eligibility. Pack, who will turn 24 in May, will seek a medical redshirt hardship waiver for the 2024-25 season, during which he played just nine games.
Pack was the only player remaining from the Final Four team on the 2024-25 roster but played only the first nine games and spent the rest of the season out with an ankle injury. His last game was Dec. 10 against Tennessee. He averaged 13.9 points, four rebounds and three assists in the games he played. The Hurricanes finished in last place in the ACC with a 3-17 conference record and a 7-24 record overall.
More than 1,000 basketball players from around the country entered the portal in the first two days after it opened March 24.
This story was originally published April 4, 2025 at 5:44 PM.