Jai Lucas rebuilds UM basketball roster with big, defensive-minded players
The University of Miami men’s basketball team will have a drastically different look this season. The new head coach, 36-year-old Jai Lucas, is 40 years younger and quite a bit shorter than retired coach Jim Larranaga.
Not a single player is left from last year’s roster. And, this year’s team will be bigger and more defensive-minded than recent Hurricanes teams.
Freshman forward Shelton Henderson, who decommited from Duke to follow former Blue Devils assistant Lucas to Miami, is 6-6 and a hulking 240 pounds. Senior center Ernest Udeh Jr., an Orlando native and TCU transfer, is 6-11 and 266 pounds. Senior forward Malik Reneau, a Miami native and Indiana transfer, is 6-9 and 238 pounds.
And then there’s 6-10 freshmen center Salih Altuntas of Turkey, weighing in at 274 pounds.
“There are a lot of big young men walking around campus, so just physically, when you look at this team, it’s going to seem different,” said UM athletic director Dan Radakovich.
Lucas said size, physicality and defense were his aim as he put together his first Hurricanes roster. He also tried to bring back home as many Florida natives as possible to create a bond in a transfer portal era that makes team chemistry more challenging.
“My thought process in building this team was in Year 1, I wanted to be big positionally and be able to really defend and rebound,” Lucas said Tuesday during the team’s Media Day. “I felt like if we could cover those three things, it gives you an opportunity in every game. Most games are won in the trenches.”
Henderson has been among the standouts so far, along with Michigan transfer guard Tre Donaldson, Reneau, Udeh Jr., Miami Norland grad/Missouri transfer Marcus Allen and freshman Dante Allen, son of Miami Heat assistant coach Malik Allen.
“In the scrimmages, you couldn’t tell he was a freshman by the way he played,” Lucas said of Henderson. “One thing that has always impressed me about Shelton is his poise on the court, being even-keeled. There’s still a learning curve, and there will be a wall that he hits, and I look forward to helping him through that.”
Associate coach Charlton “C.Y.” Young, who grew up in Miami Gardens and played at Carol City, is delighted to be back in South Florida after three decades away with stops at University of Missouri and FSU.
He agreed that Henderson will make an immediate contribution.
“He’s definitely an instant impact guy,” Young said. “That’s not even debatable. He’s physically ready to play now and being a McDonald’s All-American and coming out of Houston, he’s played high-level basketball. I had Patrick Williams and Scottie Barnes at FSU, he reminds me of them, his ability to play multiple positions. He could play backup point, could play through contact, and has a tremendous amount of humility.
“He’s a pro. It’s just a matter of when. Is it one year or two? But he’s going to get there. We’re blessed to have him.”
And Henderson is thrilled to be at Miami, reunited with Lucas. They attended the same high school and Lucas’ father, John Lucas, is among his mentors.
“Coach Lucas came from the same place as me, same high school, I worked out with his dad since I was in fourth grade every day, so it was easy to make the switch from Duke,” Henderson said. “I think it was the right choice at the end of the day. We have a chance to be one of the best defensive teams in the country. A lot of people doubt us. We have a huge chip on our shoulder. I think people are going to see we’re a legit team and I can’t wait to show it.”
The Hurricanes tip off the 2025-26 season on Nov. 3 at 8 p.m. at the Watsco Center against Jacksonville University.
“We really need the fan base and the students to be there to help us,” Lucas said. “We’ll be fun to watch. We’ll be an exciting brand. We have to build it, and then they’ll come.”
This story was originally published October 28, 2025 at 5:03 PM.