The Miami Hurricanes’ 2026-27 men’s basketball roster is starting to take shape, and the early read points to a lineup with size, length and a few clear priorities for Jai Lucas’ offense. MiamiRoundtable put together an unofficial depth chart, and the biggest takeaway is simple: the Hurricanes are going to lean on a handful of transfers and a couple of young building blocks to carry the load.
At point guard, Villanova transfer Acaden Lewis stands out as the obvious choice to steer the offense. As a freshman last season, he put up 12.2 points per game on 45.6 percent shooting, added three rebounds and finished as the Wildcats’ assist leader with 5.3 per game across 33 starts.
Miami doesn’t have another pure creator on the roster, which makes Lewis even more important. Brent Bland, who arrives from Saint Peter’s, is slotted in behind him.
Bland averaged 13.9 points on 38.8 percent shooting and 1.5 assists in 29 starts, and while he was his team’s top scorer, the next step in his game will be getting teammates more involved. His speed and ballhandling give Miami another way to attack.
The backcourt pairing beside Lewis projects to include Dante Allen, who grew into a bigger role last season. The Miami native started as Tre Donaldson’s backup as a freshman, then took over as the Hurricanes’ starting shooting guard over the final 16 games, including the ACC and NCAA Tournament.
In that stretch, he averaged 6.7 points on 47.7 percent shooting, 2.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 26.4 minutes. Allen is expected to stay at the two and share the starting backcourt with Lewis.
Behind him, Bucknell transfer Quin Berger is projected as the reserve. His college career has not yet taken off, but there’s a chance Lucas can get more out of him.
Berger also missed all of the 2024-25 season after suffering an ACL injury before the year began.
On the wing, Shelton Henderson looks like one of the most promising pieces in the group. The freshman turned in a strong first season, averaging 13.8 points on 56.7 percent shooting, along with 4.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.1 steals in 35 starts.
At 6-6 and 240 pounds, he brings both power and burst, giving Miami a wing who can attack the rim and make life difficult for opponents. Indiana transfer Nick Dorn is projected to back him up.
Dorn averaged 8.1 points on 40.4 percent shooting and 2.3 rebounds in 30 games, with 12 starts, and he has a career 36.3 percent mark from three. At 6-7 and 225 pounds, he gives the Hurricanes another floor spacer.
The frontcourt starts with a major newcomer in Caleb Gaskins, a five-star freshman who is projected to open the year at power forward. According to 247Sports, he is the second-highest-ranked recruit in program history since 2000.
The Christopher Columbus High School product is listed at 6-8 and 219 pounds, and as a senior he averaged 22.5 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 31 games. Behind him, Robert Morris transfer DeSean Goode is expected to handle the backup role.
Goode is coming off a breakout season in which he averaged 15.2 points on 62.9 percent shooting, 5.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 33 games, including 32 starts, and he was named Horizon Player of the Year. Among Miami’s frontcourt options, he appears to be the best bet to stretch the floor.
In the middle, Georgia transfer Somto Cyril is the projected starter. He led the Southeastern Conference with a 2.2-block average last season and posted 9.3 points on 75.9 percent shooting, plus 5.4 rebounds in 33 games, 32 of them starts.
Cyril’s game is built around activity near the rim, and he brings a high-flying presence to the paint. Miami has several candidates who could back him up, including Robert Miller III and Christopher Birden Jr., but the current projection gives the job to Egor Rzyhov.
The Russian native comes with a background in professional European basketball.
In Other News...
Miami Scrimmage Put Two Early Roster Battles Under The Spotlight
The first scrimmage of Miamis 2026 fall camp gave the coaching staff an early look at where the depth chart is taking shape, and just as importantly, where it still needs work. The Hurricanes came out of the session with a better sense of player performance across the board, but a few spots already have the feel of real camp battles, especially on offense as the staff sorts through who fits where once the pads are on and the tempo picks up.
One of the most closely watched jobs is the third receiver role, a spot that could end up mattering plenty once the season starts. Up front, SJ Alofaituli is also under the microscope at left guard, where his frame stands out next to Miamis other top linemen, and the staff will keep using the coming scrimmages to see whether he can hold that spot. Freshmen are in the mix, too, with a chance to turn early camp work into meaningful snaps if they keep making the right impression. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Just Took An Unexpected Hit In Its Receiver Room
Miamis receiver room took an unexpected turn this week when Mario Cristobal announced Cam Vaughn was no longer with the program. Vaughn had arrived in January as a transfer after stops at West Virginia and Jacksonville State, and he had been one of the more interesting newcomers to watch as camp unfolded.
His presence had added another layer of competition to an offense still sorting out its depth chart, and he had drawn praise from both coaches and teammates along the way. Vaughn had been working with the third-team offense while pushing for a bigger role, so his departure leaves Miami with one less option as fall camp continues to shape the rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Is Already Making Tough Camp Cuts At A Key Position
Miamis camp has already turned serious at wide receiver, where the Hurricanes are still sorting out a crowded group ahead of the season opener against Stanford. Three players have been dismissed during camp, part of a broader push as the staff continues to evaluate effort and consistency in practice.
Head coach Manny Diaz addressed the situation on a radio show and made clear that the standard in camp is not optional. The message is aimed at a position group with plenty of competition, and the ongoing cuts show Miami is willing to make difficult decisions now rather than let camp drag on with unfinished business. [Read more 🡒]