No. 16 Miami Hurricanes: Projected Rotation & Season Outlook
The first year of the Jai Lucas era at Miami went pretty smoothly all things considered. The team went 26-9 and won an NCAA Tournament game. The 'Canes have a great foundation to build on heading into the 2026-27 campaign where they have a very talented roster incoming.
Miami brings back two second-year players who both impressed as freshmen in Shelton Henderson and Dante Allen. Henderson is a very tough matchup at 6-6, 240 pounds and showed he can do a bit of everything last season averaging 13.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game.
Miami secured a strong transfer contingent, highlighted by Acaden Lewis, who had a very impressive freshman campaign at Villanova. He averaged 12.2 PPG, 5.3 APG and 1.9 SPG last season and should immediately slot into the starting PG role. Somto Cyril should be the starting center from Day 1 as he comes over after two seasons at Georgia. Cyril is an elite rim protector who should be a very nice replacement for Ernest Udeh.
Malik Reneau was the team's leading scorer last season at 18.9 PPG. He has been ruled eligible to return for a fifth season. That certainly puts Miami in a whole different class of teams than they were likely expected to be in going into the 2026-27 season.
The Hurricanes were in good shape at the power forward position even if Reneau had not been eligible. 5-star freshman Caleb Gaskins is an athletic 4-man who can beat defenders in a variety of ways. He will develop as the season goes on and should see more playing time as the season goes on.
Miami also brought in Robert Morris transfer DeSean Goode, who was a nightly double-double threat last season. He brings a lot of experience to the table and should help with Gaskins' development. LSU transfer Robert Miller is another option at power forward.
Indiana transfer Nick Dorn is a terrific shooter, and Brent Bland provides a strong backup point guard option should Lewis get in foul trouble.
There's a lot to like about this Hurricane's roster. It is a very young team for the most part, but coach Lucas has to be thrilled about the upside this team has. If the second-year players like Lewis, Henderson and Allen all take the leaps many expect them to, and Gaskins can live up to his 5-star ranking, this could be a very dangerous team in ACC play and into March.
Check out how injuries are affecting the status of other players & teams on RotoWire's college basketball injury report.
2026-27 Miami Basketball Projected Starting Lineup:
PG: Acaden Lewis (12.2 PPG, 5.3 APG, 1.9 SPG at Villanova)
SG: Dante Allen (6.6 PPG)
SF: Shelton Henderson (13.8 PPG, 4.9 RPG)
PF: Malik Reneau (18.9 PPG, 6.5 RPG)*
C: Somto Cyril (9.3 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 2.2 BPG at Georgia)
Key Reserves: Caleb Gaskins (No. 11 in SC Next 100), DeSean Goode (15.2 PPG, 8.7 RPG at Robert Morris), Nick Dorn (8.1 PPG, 2.0 3PM at Indiana), Brent Bland (13.9 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 2.7 3PM at St. Peter's), Robert Miller (6.1 PPG at LSU)
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