Duke’s Lucas focus of Miami search, sources say

Duke associate head coach Jai Lucas has emerged as the focus of the Miami basketball search, sources tell ESPN.

A deal is not completed, and the plan for the search is for it to come together on a traditional timeline close to the end of the regular season.

Multiple sources told ESPN on Saturday night that the job has not been formally offered, and the expected timeline of a deal coming together isn’t imminent. Miami plays Duke on Tuesday in Coral Gables.

Lucas, 36, is considered one of the country’s top assistant coaches, as he’s worked at Texas (2016-20) and Kentucky (2020-22) as an assistant coach prior to landing at Duke in 2022. He got elevated to Duke’s associate head coach in 2023.

He’s also Duke’s defensive coordinator, as Duke ranks No. 4 nationally in KenPom’s defensive efficiency ratings and No. 1 in two-point field goal percentage. In Lucas’ first two seasons at Duke, they finished in the Top 20 in KenPom’s defense rankings.

Miami is set to replace Jim Larranaga, who stepped down in December amid his 14th season at the school. Larranaga led Miami to the Final Four in 2023 and twice won the ACC regular season. Miami is in last place in the ACC, as they are 6-20 overall and 2-13 in league play.

Lucas is also considered one of the country’s best recruiters, as he helped stock both Texas and Kentucky with elite talent during his time there. At Duke, the Blue Devils again are expected to have the country’s top recruiting class, with Lucas playing a big role in helping bring in the Boozer twins for the 2025 class. Duke’s recruiting class has been considered in the Top 2 nationally in 2025, 2024 and 2023.

Lucas is the son of John Lucas II, the former Maryland All-American, No. 1 NBA draft pick and long-time NBA coach and assistant.