Shakeup of Duke basketball staff includes hiring a Kentucky assistant coach
Jai Lucas is leaving the Kentucky basketball coaching staff to take a position with Duke, the Durham (N.C.) Herald-Sun confirmed Friday.
Later, UK Coach John Calipari tweeted his support for the move.
“Yesterday, Jai informed me he was taking a promotion at another school,” “Calipari tweeted. “I asked where and when he told me Duke, he expected me to be mad.
“I support what he thinks is best for his family. He’s been loyal, terrific on the road and great for our players. And I want what’s best for him. So I’m good with it.”
Calipari said he is not surprised when other programs have an interest in hiring a UK staffer.
“This year, all of our assistants have been approached about other opportunities,” Calipari tweeted. “When you have a great staff, that’s what happens!”
Lucas joined the UK staff in August of 2020 as the program’s recruiting coordinator. Before that 2020-21 season began, he had also been named an assistant coach on Calipari’s staff.
Lucas becomes the latest change to a Duke staff in flux.
Of course, Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski retired after the 2021-22 season.
Then assistant coach Nolan Smith left for Louisville. Duke promoted associate head coach Jon Scheyer as Krzyzewski’s successor.
Other changes on the Duke staff included promoting Amile Jefferson to assistant coach and the hiring of Elon Coach Mike Schrage as a special assistant to Scheyer.
During his time on the Kentucky staff, Lucas was credited with helping successfully recruit five players who appeared in either the McDonald’s All-American or Jordan Brand Classic games. He also played a role in the recruitment of Shaedon Sharpe, who joined UK at midseason and contributed as a practice player before now entering his name in this year’s NBA Draft. Sharpe has not ruled out withdrawing from the draft and playing for Kentucky next season.
In its official biographical sketch, UK said that Lucas was “an integral part” of the development of Sahvir Wheeler and freshman TyTy Washington. Wheeler led the Southeastern Conference in assists for a second straight season while Washington set a program record with 17 assists against Georgia.
Lucas, 33, is the son of former Maryland All-American John Lucas. The elder Lucas grew up in Durham, N.C., before becoming an All-America player for Maryland.
Before coming to Kentucky, he was on the coaching staff at Texas (his alma mater) headed by Rick Barnes and then Shaka Smart.
Texas had three recruiting classes rated among the top 20 in the country during Lucas’ time on the staff.
A native of Houston, Lucas was a McDonald’s All-American and a player in the Jordan Brand Classic. He began his college playing career at Florida, where he made the All-SEC Freshman Team.
After college, Lucas played two seasons in the NBA D-League and one season in Latvia.
This story was originally published April 29, 2022 at 2:56 PM.
