Miami emerges as top school for elite South Florida recruit: “I love it … it’s home”
Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna 2026 ATH Denairius Gray is nowhere near finished with his recruitment, but Miami is leading for the 6-foot-1, 170-pound prospect early.
Gray listed Miami as his top school over Georgia, Auburn, Florida, Florida State and LSU, among others, thanks to his connection with the Hurricanes’ coaching staff and Miami’s standing as his hometown school. Gray visited Miami for an unofficial visit March 9 and squeezed in a last-minute trip to Coral Gables July 25 just before the August dead period.
Gray’s contact with the Hurricanes is relatively limited due to NCAA rules that prohibit coaching staffs from directly contacting underclassmen prospects, but he makes sure to chat with Miami receivers coach Kevin Beard whenever possible.
Gray is expected to play both ways for Chaminade-Madonna this season due to the team’s receiver depth with players like 2024 No. 1 overall prospect Jeremiah Smith and No. 35 prospect Joshisa Trader, a Miami commit, but most schools are interested in him as a receiver, and he’s expected to receive heavy playing time at receiver his junior and senior seasons.
“I really love (Miami), to be honest,” Gray said. “I love it. It’s home. They’re going to be great again. Two of my teammates (Trader and 2024 four-star safety Zaquan Patterson) are committed there currently, and I’m really looking forward to playing with them.
“I could play with them in college. I really like it. Me and coach KB have a great relationship. He’s been recruiting me since he got here, coach (Mario) Cristobal came to my old school a couple of times, and (Mike) Rumph, he’s from Boynton, where I’m from, so we’ve got a connection. Every time I go (to Coral Gables) it’s a great experience, I really love the school and it’s home.”
Gray has also had heavy contact with Auburn and Florida State’s coaching staffs in recent weeks, but Miami is still his top program. Trader and Patterson’s decisions to commit to the Hurricanes also caught Gray’s attention.
“They see the future just like I do,” Gray said. “They see that Miami is going to be great. I’m really looking forward to building this relationship, and I really do like Miami. It shows they’re recruiting people from my school; it’s not like a first-time thing. They really like Chaminade. I’m looking forward to it.”
Gray is in no rush to make a decision with three years of high school left, although he would like to commit sometime around the start of his junior year next fall. He plans to have thorough discussions with his family before he makes any decisions as well.
CaneSport’s Take
Gray’s decision to publicly name Miami his No. 1 school comes roughly a week after fellow 2026 receiver Malachi Toney committed to the Hurricanes, and it shows early recruiting momentum in the 2026 class despite it being years from receiving the bulk of the staff’s recruiting focus. Miami still has work to do in the 2024 class, but the Canes are off to an excellent start in the 2026 cycle with two commits already.
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