Shaka Smart: Texas Basketball coach talks Mo Bamba signing, Andrew Jones & more!

Texas Basketball head coach Shaka Smart held a press conference on Thursday to discuss signing Mo Bamba.

Shaka Smart said there was a combination of factors that led to Mo Bamba signing with Texas Basketball:

• Smart worked with Bamba last summer on the USA Basketball U18 team.
• From the incoming class, Matt Coleman was instrumental in getting Bamba to Texas.
• From the current roster, Bamba connected well with fellow big man Dylan Osetkowski.
• Bamba and Coleman visited Texas in October during the weekend of Texas Football’s thrilling win over Baylor.
• Bamba loved the academics side of the University of Texas and the overall city of Austin.

All of that, plus Shaka Smart’s recruiting visits to New York led to the #3 overall player in the 2017 college basketball recruiting class joining Texas.

But, Shaka Smart said he is not guaranteeing anyone a starting position for Texas Basketball.

Who will Start for Texas Basketball?

Shaka Smart said everyone is going to have to work for starting jobs on the re-done Texas Basketball roster. And, nothing is guaranteed.

He also addressed projected lineups for Texas Basketball, saying he is not close to deciding on a lineup.

Smart emphasized that he wants to see how the team comes together this offseason. Everyone is going to have to learn how to play together, so he’s excited that he scheduled a trip to Australia this summer to make sure the team gels before the season starts.

Smart said one thing that has been very encouraging to him is the current roster members taking ownership after an 11-22 season.

In retrospect, Smart said perhaps it was too much for the sophomores to advance from freshmen to team leaders in one season. He didn’t have much of a choice in that department since the team was so young. But, more could have been done to help sophomores like Kerwin Roach, Eric Davis, and Tevin Mack (before Tevin was suspended and released from the team).

In the offseason, Coach Smart said the remaining sophomores-turned-juniors Roach and Davis have taken more responsibility for the team. That includes helping Smart build what he envisions as the Texas Basketball program.

Smart could also use one more shooting guard in limbo.

What is Andrew Jones’ Status?

Shaka Smart talked at length about NBA prospects Jarrett Allen and Andrew Jones. Smart said Allen has grown up a lot since completing his freshman season for the Longhorns. And, he is definitely ready for the NBA as a potential Lottery pick.

As for Jones, Smart said he is waiting to gather as much information as possible about whether he could be a first round pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.

Jones is working out for more NBA teams after the Combine, so he is taking advantage of his time to make a decision on whether to return to college.

It sounds like Jones has grown since his freshman season by getting feedback from NBA teams. If he returns to Texas, that bodes well for the Longhorns getting a player who gained a lot of knowledge and experience over the summer.

Overall, whether Jones returns to Texas, Coach Smart said he feels like he has a stable roster. Smart went from one of the oldest teams in college basketball his first year to one of the youngest in his second year. Now, he has a mix of experienced players, transfer players with experience, and super stellar incoming freshmen like Mo Bamba and Matt Coleman.

Next: Reminder - 2018 Final Four in Texas!

If everything comes together in Australia this summer, non-conference in the fall, and Big 12 conference in the winter, this could be a very good, National Title-worthy team in the spring.