Miami Basketball Extends Offer To Top 2026 Player in Iowa

Jai Lucas and the Miami Hurricanes are working hard to rebuild the roster for the future as the Canes offer the No. 1 player in Iowa Arafan Diane a scholarship.
Jai Lucas walking through Watsco Center with his son after his first day with the Miami Hurricanes.
Jai Lucas walking through Watsco Center with his son after his first day with the Miami Hurricanes. | Miami Hurricanes Athletics

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The 2026 recruiting trail has started for the Miami Hurricanes as Jai Lucas extends an offer to one of the top centers in the country, Arafan Diane.

The talented big man has over 20 offers and is ranked as a top 15 player in the 2026 class. According to the 247Sports database, he is also the top player from Iowa and the No. 1 center in the class.

Arafan Diane taking a shot at the free throw line
Arafan Diane taking a shot at the free throw line | Adidas 3SSB

Standing at 7-foot-1, Diane would be the perfect fit for the Hurricanes, who have lacked a talented true big man on their roster for so long. This dates back to when Jim Larranga was running the program and sending the team to the Elite Eight and Final Four. Lucas has another idea when it comes to recruiting with a defensive mindset first for many of the players.

Diane is one of the best defenders in this class, and the Hurricanes going after him is not uncommon. The Hurricanes have also set up a visit with Top 30 recruit Austin Goosby as the Canes look to have a top ten class under the first full year of Lucas.

They have their eyes set on a few other top talents in the class, mainly Caleb Gaskins, who is a Miami native. The Hurricanes have been working hard to land the talented power forward who could be the future of the Hurricanes.

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Justice Sandle
JUSTICE SANDLE

Justice Sandle is a graduate of Mississippi State University earning a Bachelor of Arts and Science in Communications with a concentration in Print and Digital Journalism. During his time in Starkville, he spent a year as an intern working for Mississippi State On SI primarily covering basketball, football, baseball, and soccer while writing, recording, and creating multimedia stories during his tenor. Since graduating, he has assumed the role of lead staff writer for Miami Hurricanes On SI covering football, basketball, baseball, and all things Hurricanes related.