Lucas may be named UM basketball coach next weekend and hire Columbus coach as assistant
Duke associate head coach Jai Lucas is expected to be named head coach of the University of Miami men's basketball team as early as next weekend, and Miami Columbus High coach Andrew Moran will likely be approached for a position on the Hurricanes' staff, according to multiple sources.
Arkansas assistant coach Bruiser Flint, who was on Kentucky's staff with Lucas from 2020-22, is also expected to be considered for a job on the UM staff.
Lucas, the 36-year-old son of former NBA star and coach John Lucas, is in negotiations with Miami and the timing of his arrival is being finalized, according to multiple well-placed sources.
The Hurricanes' season finale is at home March 8 at noon against N.C. State, and they will not make the ACC Tournament as they dropped to 6-23 overall and 2-16 in the conference after Saturday's 92-73 loss to North Carolina.
Duke, the No. 2 ranked team in the country and a national title contender, plays its regular season finale March 8 against North Carolina. The pressing question was whether Lucas would remain with the Blue Devils through the post-season, but it appears he may not.
Lucas would be replacing interim UM coach Bill Courtney, who took over on Dec. 26 after the unexpected retirement of Jim Larranaga, who led the Hurricanes to the Final Four in 2023 and the Elite Eight the year before that. The current Miami staff includes assistant coaches DJ Irving and Kotie Kimble.
As Lucas puts together his staff, Moran is a logical choice.
Lucas is considered a top recruiter and was primarily responsible for Duke landing Columbus High twin brothers Cameron and Cayden Boozer, who were also heavily recruited by Miami. Lucas worked at Kentucky for two seasons as a recruiting coordinator and assistant coach after seven years at Texas, his alma mater.
Moran was hired at Columbus in 2019 and is about to complete his sixth season coaching the Explorers. He has guided Columbus to three consecutive state championships with teams led on the court by the Boozer twins, sons of former Duke and NBA standout Carlos Boozer.
Over that span, Moran has compiled a 136-32 record including a 107-13 record over the past four seasons since the Boozers joined the team.
Prior to his stint at Columbus, Moran also won a state title coaching Miami Christian in 2015.
This season, Columbus is vying to become only the second team in Miami-Dade to win four consecutive state titles and are ranked No. 1 in the nation by MaxPreps. The Explorers are expected to be invited to Chipotle Nationals to compete for a national championship on April 3-5 in Fishers, Indiana.
Cameron and Cayden Boozer were recently named McDonald's All-Americans and will participate in that game on April 1 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Miami Herald Deputy Sports Editor Andre Fernandez contributed to this report.
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