Georgetown initially aimed high in its attempt to replace John Thompson III and reached out to both Notre Dame’s Mike Brey and Texas’ Shaka Smart, a source told CBS Sports. But the source added that Brey and Smart each respectfully declined to pursue the job. So Georgetown’s search remains wide open.
Brey was raised near Georgetown and graduated from George Washington, which is among the reasons he was a sensible target. A source told CBS Sports that “the possibility of coaching back at home tugged at his heart a little bit.” But, ultimately, the source said Brey is happy at Notre Dame and excited about a future with the Irish. Smart built his career at VCU, which is just 108 miles from the Georgetown campus. That and his presumed ability to handle the John Thompson Jr. dynamic around the program made the Big East school interested in Smart, a source told CBS Sports. But the source added that Smart has no interest in leaving Texas and the top-10 recruiting class he’s about to enroll in Austin.
Where Georgetown will turn next is unclear.
Rhode Island’s Dan Hurley, Harvard’s Tommy Amaker and Georgetown legend Patrick Ewing, a current NBA assistant, are three obvious possible candidates. Providence’s Ed Cooley has also been listed as a possible candidate. But he told the Providence Journal this week that he’s “not interested” in the job.
