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Texas Basketball: Everything culminating around Shaka Smart

By Andrew Miller

AUSTIN, TEXAS - JANUARY 19: Head coach Shaka Smart of the Texas Longhorns talks with a official during the game with the Oklahoma Sooners at The Frank Erwin Center on January 19, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TEXAS - JANUARY 19: Head coach Shaka Smart of the Texas Longhorns talks with a official during the game with the Oklahoma Sooners at The Frank Erwin Center on January 19, 2019 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images) /
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AUSTIN, TX – NOVEMBER 12: Elijah Mitrou-Long #55 of the Texas Longhorns drives against Travis Munnings #1 of the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks at the Frank Erwin Center on November 12, 2018 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TX – NOVEMBER 12: Elijah Mitrou-Long #55 of the Texas Longhorns drives against Travis Munnings #1 of the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks at the Frank Erwin Center on November 12, 2018 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images) /

Impact of letting Shaka Smart go

We can’t speculate as to any rumors backing Smart’s hot seat or what his level of job security is at this point. But, one thing that you have to examine when a coach is seemingly placed on the hot seat is what other implications would be with his departure. Coaching regime changes can have a vast impact that stems to numerous areas of the team’s culture.

Smart does a great job for the Horns on the recruiting trail. In fact, he has the best 2019 class in the Big 12, according to the 247Sports Team Composite Rankings. This type of success on the recruiting trail is nothing new for Smart either. He’s racked up numerous top 15 ranked recruiting classes in his time with the Horns.

There would be some immediate impact on the 2019 recruiting class, and for future recruiting cycles, if Smart was let go. But, a rebuild would have to come at some point and recruiting is going to be impacted either way.

Next. 3 biggest remaining 2019 basketball recruiting targets. dark

Key 2019 signees like five-star center Will Baker and four-star shooting guard Donovan Williams should be buying into the Texas basketball program, and not just what Smart has to offer. Head coaches are quite clearly an important piece to the player retention and recruiting puzzle, but that’s not the only pertinence to this program. Texas needs to find an identity and a coach that can finally inspire consistent results come game time.

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