What's July Like?

[Mistachill]

http://scouthoops.scout.com/2/877155.html

Shaka Smart, head coach, Virginia Commonwealth

This spring didn’t bring the dramatic changes on the coaching front that we’ve been accustomed to in recent years. Still, there was transition on all levels. Shaka Smart, a first-year head coach, took over an extremely successful mid-major program and added three senior players this spring.

The coach came from a high-major program (Florida) and is learning more daily about his mid-level targets. For VCU and mid-majors alike, the month is every bit a sprint. High-major schools feast off Top 100 lists. Mid-majors have a bigger, deeper pool but one that must be weeded through in greater detail.

“You’ve got to be systematic and organized in terms of how you evaluate,” Smart said. “You haven’t seen 50-75% of these guys play and you’ve been calling and recruiting and having them visit and now you have to see them more. You have four guys on the road at different times and if you aren’t on the same page in terms of the evaluation piece, you can get in trouble.

“You have to make the best use of your time and determine where the head coach needs to be. I don’t know that its history making or ground breaking but there is more of a sense of urgency because of (missing) April. Plus, we’re a new staff and that’s multiplied.”

 

[getSmart]

Seems like Coach Smart and staff are very aggressive recruiters. If you look at sites like recruitrecon, scouts, rivals, etc. you will see that we have offered to a dozen guys already. Other schools in the CAA haven't even formally expressed interest in a dozen guys, much less offered.

I like the fact that Coach Smart really wants to push VCU to new heights and that his staff is equally aggressive. Our new coaching staff is bringing a ton of energy to the program. I think all of their hard work will pay off. If nothing else they are getting the VCU name out to more and more kids.