University of Miami lands Class of 2024 four-star basketball recruit Austin Swartz

The University of Miami basketball program landed its first commitment from the Class of 2024 on Tuesday, and it was a big one.

Austin Swartz, a four-star guard ranked in the top 50 nationally by most recruiting experts, picked the Hurricanes over Clemson, UConn, Florida State, Indiana, Georgia, Notre Dame, and Virginia Tech.

The native of Concord, North Carolina, is listed at 6-foot-4 and 180 pounds, is ranked the No. 44 overall prospect in the class by the 247Sports composite rankings and No. 8 among shooting guards. ESPN ranks him No. 51 overall in the ESPN 100 and the No. 9 shooting guard. On3 has him listed at No. 30 overall.

“I believe Miami and coach [Jim] Larranaga can help reach my goal of making the NBA,” Swartz told ESPN. “They have had success with guards who can shoot and score, recently with Isaiah Wong, who has the same type of size and frame as me. They had Shane Larkin, who could really shoot it deep.

“They play a five-out offense and allow their guards to make decisions and play in space. They also play a lot of pick-and-roll. It all fits what I am looking for.”

He said Larranaga’s relationship with his players was a big factor in him picking Miami, which is coming off its first Final Four in school history and reached the Elite Eight the previous year.

“They laid out a plan for me, and I feel Coach L is a player’s coach,” Swartz said. “He is fun to be around and gives off good vibes. Speaking with the players, they said he is in your corner, both in the good and bad times. He helps his players through their tough times. He tries to build confidence in his players. That’s important to me.”

Swartz plays for Concord School outside of Charlotte. He averaged 18.9 points through 22 games on the Nike EYBL circuit this spring and summer and scored 25 points or more in seven games.

The Hurricanes lost Wong and Jordan Miller to the NBA from the 2023 Final Four team, but kept other key players such as Norchad Omier, Nijel Pack, Wooga Poplar and Bensley Joseph. Miami also added Florida State transfer Matthew Cleveland, a 6-7 wing who averaged 13.8 points and 7.4 rebounds last season and was among the most coveted players in the transfer portal.

The UM 2023-24 season tips off with an Oct. 29 exhibition matchup versus TCNJ at the Watsco Center.

The nonconference schedule includes a visit to Lexington, Kentucky, to take on eight-time NCAA champion Kentucky in the first ACC-SEC Challenge on Nov. 28 at 7:30 p.m. The Hurricanes will also play back-to-back home games against in-state rivals. Miami will first play UCF on Nov. 10 in its inaugural year as a Big 12 member. Three days later, the Canes host FIU in the first meeting of the crosstown rivals since December 2008.