Texas Basketball: 5 thoughts regarding Shaka Smart’s potential return

4. Getting recruiting going for the off-season

The one good factor for the Texas basketball program regarding the continuity of bringing back the same head coach for the fifth straight year is the impact on the recruiting trail. Coaching stability is hard to find at the college hoops ranks for mid-major and the less prominent power conference programs. But, the Horns mostly have a remarkable level of coaching continuity through the past few decades.

Texas is one of the premier college hoops programs not just in the Big 12, but across the country, in terms of the recruiting prowess year in and year out. According to the 247Sports Team Composite Rankings, Texas has the nation’s No. 13 2019 recruiting class and the best in the Big 12.

Despite a potential late run from the Kansas Jayhawks on the recruiting trail for the 2019 cycle just ahead of National Signing Day, the Horns should be able to hold onto the top spot in the Big 12 class rankings. This recruiting cycle was very friendly to Texas due to the commitment of the five-star Austin native Baker.

However, the 2020 Texas basketball recruiting class is still without a single commitment. Having National Signing Day less than two full weeks out for the 2019 cycle and not a single pledge in any future recruiting class is a worrying sign for the Horns. Bringing in a new head coach could spark the results on the recruiting trail for future classes, just not what’s in store for 2019.