The Miami Hurricanes landed their first big commitment from the 2026 class — Caleb Gaskins, a five-star forward from Melbourne, Florida. Gaskins chose the Hurricanes over major programs like Florida, Alabama and Michigan, placing his faith in new head coach Jai Lucas, who will begin his first season as Miami’s coach in 2025-26.
Gaskins is Miami’s first 2026 commitment and a likely centerpiece of that team. After signing three consensus four-star prospects in 2025, Lucas lands his first five-star for the Hurricanes. The 6’9 forward ranks 16th overall according to 247’s consensus board and 22nd on our 2026 class top 25 ranking. In 20 EYBL games with Nightrydas Elite this summer, he averaged 16.6 points on 52.8% true shooting, according to Synergy.
Gaskins has showcased potent scoring potential
At the youth level, Gaskins functions as a primary offensive option on the court for Nightrydas and now his Columbus high school squad. He recently exploded at the Border League as a first option on the perimeter, most notably dropping 39 points on sparkling efficiency against Archbishop Stepinac while his team faced major injuries.
caleb gaskins dropped 39 points on 69% TS against archbishop stepinac and he couldn’t miss from outside
i appreciated the number of drives he had in this game where gaskins held his handle deep into slashes for finishes or fouls. big swing skill for him pic.twitter.com/hfkLKaXSu4
— ben pfeifer (@bjpf_) October 8, 2025
Mid-range scoring is his feature skill, as Gaskins weaponizes his height, 7’1 wingspan and excellent touch to rise over defenders. He’s comfortable hitting shots moving forward or fading backwards away from defenders, converting a solid 32.6% of his off-dribble mid-range shots in EYBL. Many of these shots are challenging and that deflates his efficiency some, but the flashes bode well for his scoring future.
Eventually, Gaskins should extend his off-dribble shooting out to three, which will excite NBA scouts. At his best moments, he’s showcased scoring ability at every level of the floor, capable of spacing the floor, drilling intermediate shots and driving to the basket. He’s a strong athlete with plenty of mobility to aid his drives.
Future improvement areas
Those same physical tools should help Gaskins contribute on defense, even if he’s an inconsistent defender at this stage as many high schoolers are. His flashes of weak side rim protection and versatile on-ball defense could turn him into an every-play impact defender down the line. His consistency, especially away from the ball, will be challenged at the college level.
When considering his decision making warts and both ends, it’s important that Gaskins is one of the younger players in the class and won’t turn 18 until next August 2026, just months before beginning his college career. That youth alongside tons of offensive responsibility are common limiting factors for high school stars.
At Miami, Lucas might choose to develop Gaskins into his primary initiator as a jumbo shotmaking forward. For his college and NBA future, scoring will set his ceiling, though developing more complementary skills will allow him to fit in the ACC. He’s talented enough to leave Miami after one season is everything breaks right, though multiple college seasons of development might serve him best.
