Miami’s preseason buzz starts with Malik Reneau, and for good reason. The fifth-year forward has landed on the 20-man list of candidates for the 2027 Karl Malone Award, which goes to the top power forward in NCAA Division I men’s basketball.
Reneau is back in Coral Gables for his second season with the Hurricanes after a breakout 2025-26 run that put him squarely among the ACC’s best. The Miami native earned All-ACC First Team honors, started all 35 games and led the team with 18.9 points per game. He also chipped in 6.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists while shooting 54% from the field.
The 6-foot-9 forward was the hub of Miami’s offense under second-year coach Jai Lucas, and the production came in bunches. Reneau scored 20 or more points 18 times and finished with nine double-doubles, including six games with at least 20 points.
His top scoring effort came in a 28-point outing against Pitt. He also had 23 points and a season-high 12 rebounds in a win at Florida State, plus 26 points at NC State and 24 points in both an ACC Tournament win over Louisville and an NCAA Tournament win over Missouri.
Before arriving at Miami, Reneau spent three seasons at Indiana, where he earned All-Big Ten honorable mention recognition. Once in Coral Gables, he quickly became the centerpiece of the Hurricanes’ attack.
His path back to college basketball took another turn after the 2026 NBA Draft, when he went undrafted and signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Orlando Magic. He played in two Las Vegas Summer League games, averaging 9.5 points and 3.5 rebounds, and closed out the event with a 19-point showing against the Celtics, going 6-of-7 from the field and 3-of-3 from three.
Reneau later joined a group of Class of 2022 players in a lawsuit against the NCAA seeking an additional year of eligibility under the organization’s updated five-year window. An injunction restored that eligibility, clearing the way for his return to Miami for 2026-27.
Earlier this month, Reneau was also named to the Preseason All-ACC Second Team, while Miami was picked to finish fourth in the conference preseason poll.
In Other News...
Miami Heads To UNC With One Injury Concern Still Lingering
Miami heads to North Carolina with the usual late-week injury report bringing more questions than comfort, even before the trip north gets underway. Six Hurricanes are already ruled out, including wide receiver Joshua Moore and running back CharMar Brown, thinning out depth at two spots Miami would prefer to keep stocked for a road game with real ACC weight.
Milan Parris, the freshman who had been worth monitoring, is not listed, but the lingering concern around veteran cornerback Xavier Lucas keeps at least one part of Miamis preparation under a bit of a cloud. UNC has its own defensive uncertainty with several starters either out or questionable, so the matchup carries the feel of a game where availability could matter as much as scheme once the teams finally take the field. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Could Be Miamis Biggest Unbeaten Test Yet
Miami heads into Halloween weekend as one of just three unbeaten FBS teams left standing, and the attention now shifts from preserving the perfect record to surviving what comes next. The Hurricanes have paired a strong offense with a defense that has kept opposing teams under control, which has made their start look sustainable rather than lucky, but the calendar only gets less forgiving from here.
Notre Dame looms as the kind of matchup that can tell everyone whether Miamis unbeaten run is a statement or just a fast start. Other unbeaten teams like Utah and UCLA have their own tricky paths ahead, and projections still point to all three landing in the same neighborhood by seasons end, but for Miami the next test could be the one that defines how serious this season really is. [Read more 🡒]
Belichick Faces A Brutal North Carolina Test At No. 1 Miami
Miami has climbed to No. 1 in the AP Top 25 for the first time since 2002, and the timing only sharpens the spotlight on what comes next. A strong start has pushed the Hurricanes into rarefied territory, backed by a 14-1 run over their last 15 games and powered by a roster that can make almost any Saturday feel like a showcase.
North Carolina arrives with its own history in this matchup, having won the last five meetings, including two against Miami coach Mario Cristobal. The Tar Heels will have to deal with two Heisman Trophy contenders in quarterback Darian Mensah and wide receiver Malachi Toney, both of whom sit near the top of the national statistical picture, which is exactly why this game feels less like a checkpoint and more like a measuring stick. [Read more 🡒]