5 new faces added to the Miami Hurricanes' men's basketball squad ft. Jalil Bethea

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Miami Hurricanes guard Jalil Bethea (left) and forward Lynn Kidd (right) (Image Source: IMAGN)
Miami Hurricanes guard Jalil Bethea (left) and forward Lynn Kidd (right) (Image Source: IMAGN)

Miami had a disappointing 2023-24 college basketball season, going 6-14 in the ACC and 15-17 overall. The Hurricanes, coached by Jim Larrañaga, worked hard during the offseason to acquire the best talents available in the transfer portal and from high school.

The team acquired 10 new players who would reinforce Miami's lineup in the 2024-25 campaign and help returning stars Matthew Cleveland and Nijel Pack bring the Hurricanes back to the NCAA Tournament despite the tough challenge they're set to face in the expanded Atlantic Coast Conference.

Let's take a look at the five new players who are expected to shine this coming season.


5 new Miami Hurricanes players for the 2024-25 college basketball season

#1. Jalil Bethea

Jalil Bethea is a consensus five-star shooting guard who was ranked seventh-best overall recruit per 247 Sports and No10 high school prospect per ESPN. The East Team starter in the 2024 McDonald's All-American Game helped Archbishop Wood High School reach the PIAA-6A semifinal round in the 2023-24 season and averaged 22.7 points, six rebounds and five assists per game.

Bethea is expected to form a terrific three-guard combo with veteran guards Nijel Pack and Matthew Cleveland with Miami this coming season.


#2. Lynn Kidd

Lynn Kidd is coming off an efficient 2023-24 season with Virginia Tech, averaging 13.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg and 1.1 apg in 23.2 minutes. The 6-foot-10 Gainesville native shot 66.8% from the field and 84.2% from the free throw line.

Kidd will lead the Hurricanes frontcourt, who lost double-double machine Norchad Omier to Baylor.


#3. Isaiah Johnson-Arigu

Isaiah Johnson-Arigu is a third-ranked recruit in Minnesota who helped Totino-Grace win its third-straight Class 3A state title. The four-star recruit averaged 20.2 points, 8.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game in the 2023-24 season and was selected into the Star Tribune All-Metro First Team.

The six-foot-seven forward is expected to play more in the wings for Miami in the 2024-25 season.


#4. Austin Swartz

Austin Swartz is a four-star recruit out of North Carolina. The six-foot-4 guard is a consensus top-50 recruit, ranking 46th overall in 247 Composite and No. 47 per ESPN.

The shooting guard is coming off a breakout season in high school, where he averaged 26.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg and 6.0 apg during his senior year in Cannon School. Swartz was ranked third offensively in the 2023 Nike EYBL circuit, tallying 21.0 ppg.


#5. Jalen Blackmon

Jalen Blackmon had an excellent 2023-24 season, where he led Stetson to the NCAA Tournament. The 6-foot-2 Blackmon averaged 21.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.9 apg for the Hatters.

The guard led the ASUN conference in points per game, total points (744), free throw percentage (.907), total minutes (1,216), total field goals (244), and total 3-point field goals (110). Blackmon scored 43 points in the ASUN Championship and was named tournament MVP.

His explosiveness in offense would be very beneficial for the Hurricanes as he could either be inserted in the starting five or play off the bench during games.

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Edited by Debasish
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