Shaka Smart's Impact On SEC Basketball Recruiting

[jbcarol]

Evan Daniels ‏@EvanDaniels 3h3 hours ago

Evan Daniels Retweeted Earl Rooks

Shaka Smart told me last week the way to get the enthusiasm & effort he wants from his team is to "model it"...

https://twitter.com/FullThrottleT2D/status/658012422066671616

[jbcarol]

Jon Rothstein ‏@JonRothstein 33m33 minutes ago

Shaka Smart talks about his first season at Texas, Isaiah Taylor, and much more. A Q & A @CBSSports: http://cbsprt.co/1HCI9CV

AUSTIN, Texas -- Shaka Smart is about to begin a new chapter. The 38-year old head coach will soon begin his first season at Texas after six successful years at VCU which was highlighted by a trip to the 2011 Final Four. CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein sat down with Smart to discuss the Longhorns' potential style of play, Isaiah Taylor, and how the Big 12 will differ compared to the other leagues that Smart has already coached in...

[jbcarol]

Evan Daniels ‏@EvanDaniels 3h3 hours ago

Texas has a pair of top 100 prospects & are looking for more | Class Breakdown:



#25 Texas Longhorns
Prev.: #NR

Shaka Smart's class consists of a pair of top 100 recruits, both of which can help. At 6-10, James Banks has significant upside, while Jacob Young, the brother of NBA player Joe Young, is a tremendous shooter/scorer. The Longhorns are still actively recruiting Andrew Jones, Jarrett Allen and others.
Key verbals: C James Banks (#45 ), SG Jacob Young (#84 )

[jbcarol]

Brian Davis ‏@BDavisAAS Nov 13

Final in China: Underrated Washington shows more hustle, muscle and gets a well-earned 77-71 win over Texas in Shaka Smart's debut.

[jbcarol]

Brett Edgerton ‏@EditorEdge 15h15 hours ago

It took the Battle 4 Atlantis bracket to make it happen, but we get Washington-Gonzaga and Texas-Texas A&M tomorrow, so that's cool.

[jbcarol]

Trey Scott ‏@TreyScott247 Nov 25

Trey Scott Retweeted Brent Zwerneman

We'll tell our grandchildren about Texas and TAMU playing a November hoops game in a Bahamas hotel ballroom

Brent Zwerneman ‏@BrentZwerneman Nov 25

No. 25 Texas A&M moves to 5-0 w/ 84-73 victory over Texas in Battle4Atlantis.

Brian Davis ‏@BDavisAAS Nov 25

Have to say, I'm very impressed with the Aggie hoops squad. Four players in double figures as Ags hit 28 of 37 free throws.

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/5starbasketball/status/671913701159641088

[jbcarol]

Evan Daniels ‏@EvanDaniels 23h23 hours ago

Texas just offered 2017 five-star big man Jeremiah Tilmon, per his coach Shane Heirman.

[jbcarol]

Brian Davis ‏@BDavisAAS 5h5 hours ago

WOW. Final in Austin: Javan Felix hits a calm jumper after a wild Isaiah Taylor miss. Texas knocks off No. 3 North Carolina, 84-82.

[jbcarol]

Evan Daniels ‏@EvanDaniels 4h4 hours ago

Shaka Smart & Texas now have the No. 10 recruiting class in the country with commitments from No. 28, No. 45 & No. 84.

Texas lands key piece in Andrew Jones | Jones was among the biggest risers this summer. At 6-4, he's developed into a PG. He's athletic, fast, has vision & makes shots.

[jbcarol]

Evan Daniels ‏@EvanDaniels 6h6 hours ago

Texas' Shaka Smart just showed up to watch 2017 PF Jarred Vanderbilt, an elite rebounder.

[jbcarol]

Jon Rothstein ‏@JonRothstein  38m38 minutes ago
Shaka Smart & Texas now have a serious resume. Longhorns have beaten UNC & Iowa State to go with road wins at Stanford & West Virginia.

[jbcarol]

ESPN Stats & Info ‏@ESPNStatsInfo 11h11 hours ago

Texas largest home loss: 36 points to Arkansas in 1945 .

Down 27 to Kansas at under-8 timeout (ESPN)


Brian Davis ‏@BDavisAAS 8h8 hours ago

No. 1 Kansas 86, No. 23 Texas 56: Isaiah Taylor's heel injury one of many questions.

Shaka Smart clearly disappointed: "Our team tonight bore no resemblance to the way we've been when we played at a high level."

[jbcarol]

Brent Zwerneman ‏@BrentZwerneman  1h1 hour ago
A&M and Texas could play in 2nd round of tourney, too, for right to advance to Sweet 16.

[jbcarol]

Kate Hairopoulos ‏@khairopoulos 4m4 minutes ago

Can Texas A&M get by Green Bay and can Texas handle Northern Iowa to set up historic matchup? http://sportsday.dallasnews.com/college-sports/collegesports/2016/03/14/hairopoulos-just-history-line-texas-meets-texas-ncaa-tournament ...

Chairmen of the NCAA selection committee shoot down conspiracy theories year after year. The idea that the bracket crafters sit in their Indianapolis hotel conference room and concoct juicy potential matchups in the NCAA tournament? Ludicrous, they say. And probably so.

But on Selection Sunday 2016, they still offered up the rich possibility of No. 3 seed Texas A&M meeting No. 6 Texas in Sunday's Round of 32 at Oklahoma City's Chesapeake Energy Arena. The West region meeting would be the first NCAA tournament pairing ever between the "former" rivals.

"It wasn't specifically arranged," Joe Castiglione, the selection committee head and Oklahoma athletic director said Sunday night on a conference call.

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/byDavidGardner/status/711044516845907969

Brent Zwerneman ‏@BrentZwerneman 8h8 hours ago

Texas A&M will face Northern Iowa on Sunday night in OKC w/ a berth in Sweet 16 in Anaheim on line. UNI beat Texas 75-72.

Brent Zwerneman ‏@BrentZwerneman 10h10 hours ago Oklahoma City, OK

Danuel House didn't bite when asked if he'd look forward to playing Texas: "We're just going to sit back & watch the game and enjoy this."

[jbcarol]

Mike Finger ‏@mikefinger 11h11 hours ago

Brutal tear-filled scene in Texas locker room, as expected. Felix: "It just sucks for my career to end on a half-court, last-second shot."

[jbcarol]

Carlton: Why the 'real' Shaka Smart era begins now at Tejas

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The shock was too great, the wound far too fresh for any analytical discussion of the past Texas season, or what is to come.

One second Texas seemed destined for overtime in the first round of the NCAA tournament Friday. In the next second, the Longhorns were part of NCAA tournament history -- thanks to a half-court heave by Northern Iowa's Paul Jespersen. [Team was clutch.]

Some NCAA buzzer-beaters are the product of great individual efforts. Some are well-executed plays, like Duke's Christian Laettner against Kentucky, or Valparaiso's Bryce Drew beating Ole Miss. What happened to Texas was the equivalent of a random act, a basketball lightning strike, the 21st century equivalent of Arkansas' U.S. Reed against Louisville in 1981.

"There's not much you can say to make them feel better in moments like this," first-year Texas coach Shaka Smart said. "I just told them I love them, and I'm proud of them. I told the seniors that I'm just so proud of the progress they've made." [Feel for you.]

While he might have been hired by Texas in early April 2015, the Smart Era at Texas actually begins now.

Depending on what junior point guard Isaiah Taylor decides regarding the NBA, Smart could have as many as seven scholarships available in the offseason. The makeover could be substantial.

[jbcarol]

Adam Zagoria ‏@AdamZagoria 7m7 minutes ago

Shaka Smart named head coach of the @usabasketball U18 team this summer. Kevin Ollie and Mark Turgeon named assistants

[jbcarol]

Jim Hicks
‏@RcsSports

Texas Asst Jai Lucas expected to be added to staff at @TCU . This would give the Horned Frogs a direct artery into the heart of John Lucas.

[jbcarol]

Jon Rothstein ‏@JonRothstein 2h2 hours ago

From late Friday: Jai Lucas will be promoted to full-time assistant at Texas, sources told @CBSSports. Official announcement expected soon.

Shaka Smart's promotion of Jai Lucas doesn't put Texas across the goal line with Jarrett Allen. But Longhorns are in better position now.

Kansas still in there with Allen. But both Texas and Houston need him more. Neither has an impact big.

[jbcarol]

Jeff Goodman ‏@GoodmanESPN 1h1 hour ago

Shaka Smart demoting Mike Morrell off the road to move Jai Lucas up, per source. Like Jai, but Morrell got majority of players in UT class.

[jbcarol]

Marc Stein Verified account
‏@ESPNSteinLine

Can't speak to the NBA aspirations of either one, but sources say two college coaches who intrigue the Rockets are Shaka Smart and Bill Self

[jbcarol]

Adam Zagoria ‏@AdamZagoria 1m1 minute ago Manhattan, NY

Shaka Smart, Mark Turgeon & Kevin Ollie will all be coaching -- and have access to -- some pretty good U18s at @usabasketball.

That group includes Mohamed Bamba, Hamidou Diallo, Quade Green, Brian Bowen, Jordan Tucker, Lonnie Walker, M Coleman https://www.sny.tv/college-recruiting/news/st-johns-signee-shamorie-ponds-leads-new-york-contingent-at-usa-basketball-u18-trials/180162386 ...

[jbcarol]

Jeff Goodman ‏@GoodmanESPN 8m8 minutes ago

Texas has landed Jarrett Allen, source told ESPN. HUGE pickup for Shaka Smart and the Longhorns.

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/EvanDaniels/status/743124648158593025

Last 5-star to commit in the US Class of '16

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/SethDavisHoops/status/743840667193905152

Smart looked considerably more cheerful Wednesday morning at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, where he was conducting trials as the head coach for Team USA's Under-18 team that will compete at the FIBA Americas Championship July 19–23 in Chile. During a break between sessions, Smart walked to where Jarrett Allen, a skilled, slender, 6'10" 220-pound center, was sitting with ice packs taped to his knees. "The second session in the day is going to feel a little more sluggish, but just try to come out with a lot of energy," Smart said. "I saw you went after a few really good balls that you didn't get. If you keep going after 'em, eventually you're gonna get 'em."

Allen is not just an important asset in the Americans' efforts to win gold. He is also the cornerstone of Smart's first recruiting class at Texas. Allen, who was selected to be a McDonald's All-American following a stellar senior season St. Stephen's Episcopal School in Austin, was one of two Longhorns freshmen who were invited to the trials. The other was James Banks, a sturdy 6'11" center from Georgia. Both made the first cut to be among the 18 finalists who will resume training next month in Houston in hopes of making the final 12-man roster. Texas's incoming class also includes a second McDonald's All-American, 6'4" combo guard Andrew Jones from Irving, Texas, marking the fourth time in history that the school has signed two McDonald's All-Americans, and just the second in which both recruits were from Texas.

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/EvanDaniels/status/782562007404851200

Longhorns added one of July's breakout stars, Jase Febres, to an already solid recruiting class. The addition of Febres, who ranks No. 47 overall, gives them three commitment in Scout's top 100 and catapults them to the No. 6 recruiting class in the country.

This comes on the heels of a top five class last season that includes top 20 recruits Jarrett Allen and Andrew Jones. Both are expected to be significant contributors to the Texas program.

What's impressive is how Texas has recruited their home state over the past year or so. Out of the gate they couldn't get a sniff with top 10 recruits De'Aaron Fox or Marques Bolden, who spurned them for Kentucky and Duke respectively.

But Texas' staff continued to build relationships and targeted the right guys that not only fit their needs, but also fit the culture they were trying to create.

Plus, Stansbury has moved from the A&M staff to Western.

[jbcarol]

Jon Rothstein ‏@JonRothstein 24m24 minutes ago

Understand the recruiting buzz & the "Shaka" factor, but Texas did not deserve its preseason hype. Too many defections. Too many questions.

[jbcarol]

 Jon Rothstein ‏@JonRothstein 11h11 hours ago

This will be Shaka Smart's most challenging season as a college head coach. Texas lacks leadership, a proven point guard, and experience.

Texas loses a buy game to UT Arlington. The epitome of brutality.

[jbcarol]

Jeff Goodman ‏@GoodmanESPN 13h13 hours ago

Shaka and Texas lose ... again. This time to TCU. Rick Barnes would be getting crucified right now in Austin.


Dave Matter ‏@Dave_Matter 8h8 hours ago

Six teams from the six high-major conferences are under .500: Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, DePaul, St. John's, Oregon State

[jbcarol]

 Jeff Goodman ‏@GoodmanESPN Jan 16

Oak Hill Academy point guard Matt Coleman just committed to Texas. Shaka Smart NEEDS a point guard like Coleman desperately.



Like a fat man needs cake

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/Michael_Carvell/status/852275171197145090

[jbcarol]

 Evan Daniels‏Verified account @EvanDaniels 1h1 hour ago

Shaka Smart has an in-home visit scheduled with 2018 five-star guard Quentin Grimes for this evening, per a source.

http://www.verbalcommits.com/players/quentin-grimes

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/ArRecruitingGuy/status/859035079309447168

http://www.verbalcommits.com/players/kaden-archie

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/Michael_Carvell/status/865369440581496832

Kentucky fans might have been disappointed — or worse — after losing out to Texas for Mohamed Bamba.

According to the Big Lead's Ryan Phillips, the Wildcats had some company in whiffing on the nation's top products.

Using 247 Sports.com's data base, Kentucky, Duke and North Carolina all missed out on top-4 recruits this season.

It's not like SEC hoop fans will miss out on the nation's best prospects. Top recruit Michael Porter is headed to Missouri.  No. 3-ranked recruit Collin Sexton will join Alabama. Bomba chose the Longhorns on Thursday.

It brings up a question to ponder. Considering most of the top recruits in college basketball typically are spending only one season before declaring for the NBA Draft, doesn't it make sense for them to play at a smaller program where they can dominate during their typically brief college careers?

[jbcarol]

 Evan Daniels‏Verified account @EvanDaniels
Texas now moves to No. 3 in Scout's 2017 recruiting class rankings with the addition of Mohamed Bamba. The Longhorns have 5 top 100 recruits

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/Michael_Carvell/status/880452827793031174

Bamba, the No. 2 player in the 2017 recruiting class, committed to Texas over Michigan, Kentucky and others last month. Ibrahim Johnson, Bamba's brother, alleged Bamba received improper gifts from a financial adviser. He also noted that he had told the NCAA of his allegations.

Johnson made the claims in a Facebook Live video that lasted nearly 23 minutes.

Warning, the video contains explicit language.

Who'$ $urprised to read of thi$ from $haka $mart?

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/AdamZagoria/status/880399631372476418

"As is usual practice by the NCAA, Mo's amateur status was previously reviewed and final certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center. The NCAA has not informed us of any pending issues or eligibility concerns at this time regarding Mo. If there are further questions, we certainly will cooperate with the NCAA to the fullest."

In a rambling, profanity-laden 22-minute Facebook Live video filmed poolside, Ibrahim Johnson detailed the alleged relationship between his younger brother and financial adviser Greer Love. Shirtless and wearing a backward baseball cap, Johnson accused Love of violating NCAA rules by supplying Bamba with money, vacations and other extra benefits and steering him toward certain schools in hopes of working with the 6-foot-11 center in the future.

Johnson said Love caused a rift to form between him and his younger brother after he disclosed that he intended to become a sports agent and represent Bamba. Going public with these accusations was apparently Johnson's way of getting revenge on Bamba for siding with Greer instead of him.

"He's not going to play this year in the NCAA because I already reported him to the NCAA and I'm already going to meet with the NCAA," said Johnson, a former basketball player at Division II University of Montevallo. "He's not going to play this year. I'm not going to lie to you. I exposed that kid."

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/Michael_Carvell/status/880560775177265152

5-star 2017 center Mohamed Bamba is caught in the crosshairs of a potential NCAA violation after his brother, Ibrahim Johnson, said in a Facebook video that Bamba accepted money from an advisor, Greer Love, the vice president of a Detroit investment firm and Michigan alumnus.

"With my 9-year, pre-existing relationship on the line with Mo personally, let alone his college eligibility, I took several additional measures to ensure that Mo was fully compliant every step of the way," Love said.

[jbcarol]

 Jeff Goodman‏Verified account @GoodmanESPN 2h2 hours ago

Texas releases statement from NCAA on Mo Bamba remaining cleared following his brother's social media rant. NCAA... http://www.espn.com/espn/now?nowId=21-0676487179383348698-4 ...

"After evaluating all available information, the NCAA determined the assistance Greer Love provides to Mohamed Bamba does not violate rules. Bamba remains certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center."

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/InsidetheNCAA/status/884827268761235456

[jbcarol]

 Dick Weiss‏ @HoopsWeiss 19h19 hours ago

ncaa clears texas 6-11 recruit mo bamba, citing pre-existing relationship dating from 4th grade mentoring. shaku gets his big man..

[jbcarol]

 Jon Rothstein‏Verified account @JonRothstein 4m4 minutes ago

Texas releases its non-conference schedule for the 2017-18 season: http://bit.ly/2vFEpRG

Play Bama, Ole Miss

[jbcarol]

https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/893081284007866368

How would you describe your relationship with Shaka Smart?

Bamba: When we were down in Chile with USA Basketball I got to know him a bit and I was actually a fan of him before that. He was one of the first college coaches that I looked into because he was recruiting Terry Larrier at VCU and I played with Terry for a while. The things you would hear about him — how relentless he was, how caring he was —

There was a Facebook video that surfaced recently featuring your brother and some relatively harsh accusations. What was your reaction when you saw that?

Bamba: Amongst my friends back home we thought it was pretty comical. It was all over the place and then when it started to get national attention, the joke of it started to fade. I tell people this all the time — I'm very happy that it happened now instead of during the season when my teammates would have been more focused on it and put us all in a bad spot. Things like this shouldn't happen, but it had to happen.

Rothstein: Are you viewing your time at Texas as just a one-year stopover prior to the NBA?

Bamba: I try to live in the moment

[jbcarol]

 Brent Zwerneman‏ @BrentZwerneman 8h8 hours ago

Aggies, Longhorns renew rivalry in scrimmage benefiting Harvey victims (Early game story): http://www.chron.com/sports/aggies/article/Aggies-Longhorns-reacquaint-themselves-in-12307122.php ... @houstonchron

UT built an early double-digit lead and held on for dear life in a 73-69 victory over A&M in a glorified scrimmage to benefit Hurricane Harvey victims before 2,048 fans.

A&M coach Billy Kennedy had said both he and UT coach Shaka Smart didn't believe their teams were ready for this early an exhibition against quality competition, but...

[jbcarol]

Texas' Mo Bamba monster night swats Alabama in showdown of future NBA stars

Collin Sexton-Mo Bamba showdown gave a packed BJCC almost everything it wanted.

Almost. Then it got a little ugly.

The meeting of future top-10 NBA draft picks delivered a few of those wow moments on an electric Friday night.

Bamba just had more. And the Longhorns ran away with it late.

A 66-50 Alabama loss with of 24 of 30 NBA teams on hand saw the Crimson Tide get no closer than four after halftime.

It was actually Longhorn Eric Davis Jr. that delivered the kill shots. His consecutive 3s with under six minutes left effectively ended it for the 16,146 in attendance.

Alabama (8-4) lost two of the last three games after starting the season with five straight wins.

"We just played bad tonight," Alabama freshman John Petty said. "We had bad rhythm. We had bad spacing. And we just had bad communication on both ends."

Bamba went for a season-high 17 points while Sexton had 8 points -- one better than a season-low --

[jbcarol]

Jon Rothstein
‏Verified account @JonRothstein
15h15 hours ago

2018 guard Courtney Ramey has committed to Texas, per his Twitter page. Enormous get for Shaka Smart.

[jbcarol]

https://247sports.com/college/basketball/recruiting/Article/Four-star-Kai-Jones-commits-to-Texas-123383673/Amp

[jbcarol]

Five-star Will Baker verbally committed to Texas. This gives Texas their fourth straight top 10 recruiting class

Shaka Smart's success on the recruiting trail continued on Thursday when five-star center prospect Will Baker opted for the Longhorns.

Baker announced his decision at a press conference at his high school – Austin (Tex.) Westlake. Baker selected the hometown Longhorns over UCLA, and offers from a host of other high major programs.

Baker took an official visit to Texas the weekend of Aug. 31. He visited the Bruins multiple times unofficially, and official the weekend of June 28.

he pledge is significant for Smart. Baker is a college ready post player with immense potential on the offensive end. He has scoring ability on the block, has potential as a shooter and is a gifted passer. 

Baker ranks as the No. 20 overall prospect...

The addition of Baker gives Texas their third top 100 recruit and the No. 10 recruiting class in the country. Baker joins four-star prospects Donovan Williams and Kai Jones to make up their current class.

Texas' basketball recruiting class has finished ranked among the top 10 in each of the last three seasons.