Jai Lucas, Duke men’s basketball’s assistant head coach, is allegedly leaving the team to become the head coach at Miami.
According to the Associated Press, the transaction is still awaiting contract discussions and information on when Lucas will depart the Blue Devils this season. @CanesInSight originally tweeted the story, and Adam Zagoria of the New York Times Sports reported that “sources” verified it.
Duke basketball refused The Chronicle’s request for comment or confirmation of the claim. The tweets were sent almost an hour before the Blue Devils upset Illinois at Madison Square Garden. Following the game, Duke’s head coach, Jon Scheyer, was asked about Lucas’ prospects as head coach.
“He is unquestionably a head coach. “That’s one of the reasons I hired him,” Scheyer explained. “I can 100% assure you that Jai is an excellent coach. He’s been fantastic for these boys, and we’ll keep moving ahead together to sort everything out.
Scheyer hired Lucas in May 2022, securing the top recruiter after two years at Kentucky. Since moving to Durham, Lucas has collaborated with Scheyer to build recruiting classes that are among the best in the country. Lucas has focused on working with the backcourt while also directing one of the country’s greatest defensive units.
Lucas was an uncommon hire outside of the Brotherhood, but he had strong family links in Durham. His grandpa, John Harding Lucas, was a prominent figure in the town; Lucas Middle School is named in his honor.
Lucas played collegiate basketball for Florida and Texas before becoming a coach. He then spent three years professionally abroad. Lucas then went to Texas and began his coaching career under the supervision of current Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes.
Lucas has played an important role on Scheyer’s staff. If his departure is confirmed, the young head coach would face a daunting challenge in selecting a replacement.
Leave a Reply