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Report: Duke set to hire Kentucky assistant Jai Lucas under Jon Scheyer

275133747_4796292347117549_592518599057046758_nby:Jonathan Wagner•04/29/22•

Jonathan Wagner

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Duke head coach Jon Scheyer (Jared C. Tilton via Getty Images.)

The Duke Blue Devils are transitioning from former head coach Mike Krzyzewski to new head coach Jon Scheyer this offseason. On Friday, Scheyer made a big hire to round out his initial coaching staff.

According to 247Sports’ Travis Branham, Duke and Scheyer will hire Jai Lucas as an assistant coach. Lucas was previously serving as an assistant under John Calipari at Kentucky.

“BREAKING: Duke head coach Jon Scheyer will hire Kentucky’s Jai Lucas as an assistant coach, a source tells @247Sports,” Branham tweeted.

In addition to his time at Kentucky, Lucas previously spent four years as an assistant at Texas from 2016 to 2020. He spent the previous couple of seasons with the Wildcats, and will now head to Duke next season.

Lucas played college basketball at Florida from 2007-2008 and at Texas from 2009-2011.

Scheyer has continued to add to Duke’s staff

In recent weeks since the NCAA Tournament, Scheyer has been busy at work in filling out his coaching staff. Former Elon head coach Mike Schrage resigned and is expected to re-join the Blue Devils on staff next season. Amile Jefferson, a former center, was also promoted to an assistant. Jefferson previously served as Duke’s director of player development last season.

Jefferson has experienced Duke as a player and a coach, and he is excited to get to work as an official assistant under Scheyer.

“I’m deeply honored and excited to be here and be part of this team that Jon Scheyer is building,” Jefferson said in a statement. “I feel a special bond and connection to Durham, our fans and our entire Duke family. Being here means the world to me. I want to extend my appreciation to Coach K for the opportunity to begin my coaching career last year, and I’m grateful for Jon for allowing me to continue it.”

It will be hard to replace Krzyzewski, but Scheyer and the Blue Devils are trying to add as many strong coaches to the staff as possible. If Lucas becomes official, that would be yet another home run hire for the Blue Devils.