Texas Basketball: 5 potential replacements for Shaka Smart as head coach

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 23: Head coach Shaka Smart of the Texas Longhorns gestures during the championship game of the 2018 Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational basketball tournament against the Michigan State Spartans at the Orleans Arena on November 23, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Michigan State defeated Texas 78-68. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images) /

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LAHAINA, HI – NOVEMBER 26: Head coach Anthony Grant of the Dayton Flyers (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images) /

5. Anthony Grant

The Dayton Flyers have been one of the top teams in the nation this season, owning a 24-2 record, with their only losses coming to Kansas and Colorado in neutral site games.

Led by superstar Obi Toppin, the Flyers are a legitimate National Championship contender.

Often overshadowed due to the play of Toppin is the job done by head coach Anthony Grant.

Given the reigns, after long time head coach Archie Miller left for Indiana, Grant has done an excellent job of rebuilding Dayton into a contender in a short period of time.

Grant has excelled in player development, developing under-recruited players such as Toppin, Jalen Crutcher, and Trey Landers into star-level players.

The Longhorns will certainly have interest in Grant, but a potential hiring would depend on two things:

1. Would Texas dare return to the A-10 after a missed hire in Smart?

2. Would Grant leave Dayton despite the inevitable departure of Toppin to the NBA draft

If both questions can be answered, it is without question that the Longhorns will be in the thick of the race for one of the top young coaching candidates in the country.

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