The Miami basketball roster overhaul kicks into high gear as freshman guard Austin Swartz makes waves by entering the transfer portal, according to Joe Tipton of On3. Swartz becomes the first player to hit the portal since Miami’s season ended on March 8, and the transfer window officially opens on March 24.
This move comes after Miami lost another freshman talent, Isaiah Johnson-Arigu, to the transfer portal in January following head coach Jim Larranaga’s retirement. Johnson-Arigu ultimately landed at Iowa, though Iowa made headlines of their own on Friday with the firing of head coach Fran McCaffrey after their Big Ten Tournament exit.
During his freshman season, Swartz averaged 5.9 points, 0.9 assists, and 1.0 rebound per game. He posted a solid shooting line of 37.7% from the field, 30.4% from beyond the arc, and an impressive 87.5% from the free-throw line. With key players like Jalil Bethea, Paul Djobet, A.J. Staton-McCray, and Divine Ugochukwu still on the roster and eligible beyond the 2024-25 season, new head coach Jai Lucas has a strong foundation to work with.
Lucas, however, has already hinted that Miami could see up to 13 new faces next season, indicating a potential roster shakeup. Bethea, Djobet, Staton-McCray, and Ugochukwu will be pivotal as Lucas rebuilds the squad after losing key commitments, including 6’9″ center Ben Ahmed and shooting guard Matthew Able, both of whom de-committed following Larranaga’s retirement. Despite this, Able has expressed interest in still considering Miami.
Swartz was a highly-rated recruit out of North Carolina, ranked 50th overall and regarded as one of the top shooting guards in the country. Miami’s 2024 class, which included Swartz, Bethea, Johnson-Arigu, and Ugochukwu, ranked seventh nationally, making Swartz’s departure all the more surprising.
As for the future, expect Lucas to be more active in the transfer market than with incoming freshmen. In his introductory press conference, Lucas revealed he’s already met with Miami’s current players to discuss the direction of the team, leaving the door open for Swartz to potentially return to the Hurricanes.
With the transfer portal opening soon, it’s clear the future of Miami basketball is poised for a major shakeup—and Swartz’s decision could just be the tip of the iceberg.
