Caleb Gaskins walked right through Jai Lucas’  JAI LUCAS PUT UP A “HOMEGROWN ONLY” SIGN!

The Block Is Hot, & Jai Lucas Is Recruiting Like a Man on a Mission, putting up a game of thrones style fence around FLorida. The Gaskins File: 6’8”, 210, Wingspan for Days, and a Certified Menace

Caleb Gaskins — Miami Columbus’ own, five-star, 6’8” South Florida demigod — just told the rest of the country, “Stay outta my city.”

Gators? Cooked.

Aggies? Pack it up.

Ole Miss? You were just here for the weather.

Jai Lucas and the Miami Hurricanes landed the No. 7 player in the nation, and the first five-star to say “I’m staying home” since your uncle still had a flip phone.

This isn’t just a commitment. It’s a territorial takeover.

“I’m Close to Home.” Translation: Florida Boys Don’t Have to Leave the 305 Anymore.

Gaskins said all the right things — “great staff,” “close-knit environment,” “family atmosphere” — but let’s keep it real: he committed because Jai Lucas is recruiting like it’s a contact sport.

The man doesn’t send texts; he sends threats.

“You wanna win a natty or you wanna play in snow?”

Lucas and assistant coach Andrew Moran (who literally coached Gaskins at Columbus) built this one brick by brick — or better yet, block by block — because they’re rebuilding the Canes from the inside out.

This is local dominance, not NIL trickery.

Gaskins looks like he was made in a Miami strength lab — 7’1” wingspan, upper body carved by the gods of Hialeah Planet Fitness, and a jumper that’s almost as confident as his chain game.

He averaged 20 and 10 at Peach Jam, bullied grown men, and has two national titles (Montverde, Columbus).

He’s not just a five-star, Gaskins is about to become a game changer for the program.

The scouting report says he can guard 1 through 4, dunk through traffic, and hit enough midrange jumpers to make Melo nod in approval.

And his quote after committing? Pure Miami.

“I just want to win, that’s it.”

Translation: “Tell the ACC to stretch before playing us.”

Lucas Is Recruiting Like He’s Building a Cartel of Florida Hoopers

This isn’t random.

Since landing Gaskins, Lucas is making it his personal crusade to keep Florida talent in Florida — and the 2026 board looks like a hit list.

He’s warm with:

Dylan Mingo (6’5” CG, NY) — Duke’s sweating.

Deron Rippey Jr. (6’2” PG, NJ) — pure foxhole general.

Jaxon Richardson (Orlando, FL) — second-generation highlight reel.

Alex Constanza (Florida native, now at SPIRE) — already got South Beach followers.

Brandon McCoy (Sierra Canyon, CA) — took an official to Miami, still talking.

Jordan Smith (Paul VI, VA) — top-2 SG, cool on everyone but Miami.

Even Mason Fuentes, a local 6’2” guard from Riviera Prep, has Lucas’ number saved as “Don’t Ignore This Call.”

Lucas isn’t chasing stars — he’s stacking neighborhoods. You can almost hear him yelling, “If you’re from the crib, you stay with the crib.”

Other programs are calling it a “hot streak.”

Nah. It’s a lockdown.

Lucas is putting handcuffs on five-stars before Duke even sends the graphic. You used to come to Miami for the nightlife — now you come to lose recruits.

In six months, Lucas turned Coral Gables into the SEC’s worst nightmare.

This program is being built brick by brick, player by player, all from Florida zip codes, and all that will thrive under Lucas.

Final Word: Miami Basketball Is Done Asking for Respect. They’re Taking Names.

Caleb Gaskins is the proof of concept.

The first domino. The face of a movement that’s part hoop dream, part street takeover.

Lucas didn’t just land a five-star. He landed the message: if you hoop in Florida, you stay home — period.

So go ahead, call it a rebuild.

We’ll call it what it is: The Florida Block Party.

Bring your sneakers, bring your NIL agent, and bring your momma — because Miami’s recruiting dinner might double as your family reunion.

Welcome home, Caleb Gaskins.

The fence is up. The lights are on.

And the rest of college basketball just got evicted from the 305.