Head coach Shaka Smart may be losing one of the assistants on his coaching staff, as Kentucky could be looking to steal Jai Lucas away. Kentucky Sports Radio is reporting that John Calipari could want Lucas to join his staff.
“Would be a big get if we could pull that off,” a source close to the Kentucky basketball program told KSR Tuesday morning.
“Jai Lucas is a specialist, knows everyone in the country. Limitless resources,” another source familiar with the situation told KSR on Monday evening. “Could be an assistant like he is now but more of a connections guy. Fits like a glove [at Kentucky].”
He would be replacing Kenny Payne, who recently joined the New York Knicks’ coaching staff.
Lucas joined the Texas staff in 2013 and began as the Texas director of basketball operations. Smart then gave him a promotion, making him an assistant coach beginning in 2016.
He is responsible for the great 2017 recruiting class that included Mo Bamba, Matt Coleman, and Jericho Sims.
Reports out of Kentucky indicate John Calipari is trying to lure Texas men's assistant Jai Lucas to Lexington.
— Brian Davis (@BDavisAAS) August 18, 2020
Before coaching, Lucas was a player at Texas for two seasons after transferring from Florida. He averaged just under three points a game with 2.9 and 1.2 assists per game during his time in Austin.
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