CT: Busy summer for Shaka caps off with extension

[districtballer]

From Jim Swing at the Commonwealth Times.

http://www.commonwealthtimes.org/?p=11256

Coach Smart and three of his assistants were allowed 20 days in the month of July to travel the country in search of new recruits for the 2011 season. Smart and his staff managed to pull in three new recruits for 2011 including shooting guard Traveon Graham along with combo guards Pierria Henry and Briante Weber. “July was a very busy month for us,” said Smart concerning the structuring of his 2011 recruiting class, “It’s still an ongoing process.”

For Shaka Smart the recruiting process is much more than just points basketball, it’s a segue to building relationships with players and their families. “I enjoy the people part of it the most,” said Smart, “spending time and getting to know them along with helping them have a smooth transition from high school into college.”

After serving as head coach for almost a year and a half head coach Shaka Smart has generated a new era of VCU men’s basketball. After producing 27 wins in 2009, one win shy of the school record, Smart is excited for the future of his players and the organization. “We have a very well-rounded team with returning players that are even better this year then they were last year,” said Smart. “This is a special place to be a basketball coach and it’s a terrific university that continues to grow and emerge.”