Canes football makes big recruiting push. And basketball news
The Miami Hurricanes emerged from its “305” day recruiting campus visits last weekend with only one new commitment, but it was a big one. And there was encouraging news on other fronts, as well.
UM not only landed a non-binding pledge from five-star Class of 2027 receiver Nicholas Lennear, but also reportedly emerged in good position with at least two other top recruits.
Lennear, who transferred to Carol City in advance of his senior season, would be Miami’s highest-rated recruit at wide receiver in more than 20 years. He had 42 catches for 778 yards and 12 TDs while helping Northwestern win the 2024 state title. He caught six passes for 135 yards in the 2025 title game.
Lennear, who also plays cornerback, has six catches for 48 yards and a touchdown while participating in the Navy All-American Bowl as an underclassman.
247 ranks him as the No. 3 receiver and No. 16 overall player in the 2027 class, and 247 recruiting director Andrew Ivins says he’s a “classic Miami-Dade playmaker that always seems to be delivering in key moments…. Tracks the football at an extremely high level…Ignites after the catch and can make the first wave of tacklers miss with his agility and creativity as he looks for cutbacks.”
Ivins says he’s “on pace to emerge as an offensive weapon for a College Football Playoff contender, but has also turned heads as a defensive back throughout prep career. Should be viewed as a true big-play threat with some inside-outside versatility that can flip the field with his deep speed and savvy route running.”
He’s only the fifth Canes commitment in the 2027 class, joining Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna four-star receiver Ah’Mari Stevens, Hollywood McArthur four-star safety Jaylen Jones, Fort Lauderdale Gibbons four-star edge player Demarcus DeRoche and three-star Palm Beach Central offensive tackle Zaquan Linton.
247 Sports ranks Miami’s group 14th, but it should catapult into the top 10 if UM lands two top players that 247 predicts will pick UM.
One is Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas offensive tackle Mark Matthews, who is rated the No. 3 prospect and No. 1 offensive lineman in the 247 rankings. He visited coach Mario Cristobal’s home last weekend.
247 Sports also makes UM the heavy favorite for Tampa Jesuit linebacker Kaden Henderson, the web site’s No. 56 overall prospect. Rivals ranks him the No. 1 linebacker and 20th best player overall.
His finalists are UM, Texas A&M, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Alabama. The Aggies had been viewed as the front-runner before Henderson’s visit to UM last week.
“It was a great feeling down there,” Henderson told Rivals’ Chad Simmons. “I had a great time. I can see myself there. It is a staff that I connect [with]. They are great teachers, too.”
UM’s quarterback target for 2027 is Sarasota Mooney’s Davin Davison, who also was on UM’s campus last weekend.
He told On3.com that “the environment was electric….. The culture and vision that they have for me is very exciting, and the hospitality was second to none. They are being very clear in showing me that I am a priority for them.”
Notre Dame and UF are among other contenders for Davison, who is rated the No. 13 quarterback and No. 220 overall prospect in the class.
Hoops notes
A few men’s basketball items heading into UM’s Atlantic Coast Conference tournament quarterfinal game at 2:30 p.m. Thursday against an undetermined opponent:
▪ Though Duke’s Jon Scheyer this week won ACC Coach of the Year honors, with 51 votes to 19 for UM’s Jai Lucas, the case could be made that Lucas had the second-best season of any of the 62 Division 1 coaches who completed their first regular season at their new school.
Virginia’s Ryan Odom -- who had nine first place votes after moving over from VCU last offseason -- finished 27-4, compared with Lucas’ 24-7 record. But Miami’s jump from a .226 winning percentage last season to .774 this season was the biggest increase in the country.
▪ Lucas has spoken repeatedly about prioritizing size and rebounding in building this roster, and it paid off in multiple ways. Not only did UM finish 11th of 361 schools in rebounding margin per game (plus eight), but the size helped UM create ample paint points, which led to a 50.6 field goal percentage, which was 10th in the country.
▪ UM’s top four players all finished in the top 10 in the ACC in something.
Forward Malik Reneau was sixth in the conference in points per game (19.0), sixth in field-goal percentage and 13th in rebounds. He received the fourth-most votes for All ACC teams.
Center Ernest Udeh Jr. was second in rebounds per game at 9.4. He received the sixth-most votes for ACC Defensive Player of the Year.
Guard Tre Donaldson was fourth in assists and 10th in scoring. He received the ninth-most votes in All ACC voting.
Freshman Shelton Henderson was fifth in field-goal percentage at 56.7.
Incidentally, guard Tru Washington received the third-most votes for Sixth Man of the Year.
This story was originally published March 10, 2026 at 4:45 PM.
