VCU eyes three former Shaka Smart assistants for hiring

Nicole Auerbach | USA TODAY Sports

Virginia Commonwealth will likely hire a familiar face to replace Shaka Smart as the Rams' next men's basketball coach, a person with direct knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports on Friday. The person spoke under the condition of anonymity because the search is ongoing.

Three potential replacements for Smart — who departed for Texas on Thursday — all coached under Smart at the Richmond, Va., university. The candidates include current VCU assistant Jeremy Ballard ​and two former assistants, Will Wade (currently the head coach at Chattanooga) and Jamion Christian (currently the head coach at Mount St. Mary's).

The Rams have made significant investment in their basketball program in recent years, particularly since their Final Four run in 2011. They raised Smart's salary when other suitors came calling, and salaries of his assistants. They're also building a new practice facility, which is expected to be completed in October.

According to the same person with direct knowledge of the situation, VCU offered Smart a $1 million raise to stay. Had he stayed, he would have made more than $2.5 million per year.