Joey Rodriguez, a sophomore guard and two-year starter for Virginia Commonwealth University, has decided to transfer. Rodriguez’s father, Joe, said his son wants to get closer to his close-knit family in Oviedo, Fla., now that former VCU coach Anthony Grant has become Alabama’s new coach.

Virginia Commonwealth’s new basketball coach, Shaka Smart, spent time with Times-Dispatch writer Tim Pearrell after his introductory press conference Thursday addressing several topics. As he embarks on his first head coaching job, here are some of his thoughts: What is your vision for VCU? Off the court, my plan is to continue along the standard that Coach [Anthony] Grant has set in the terms of the way our guys carry themselves, perform academically and represent Virginia Commonwealth University. I really want our team to be a very strong part of the overall community. I want us to be involved at the hospital in any ways that we can be. I always feel that’s a tremendous opportunity for players to gain perspective and for players to do something for someone who is maybe less fortunate than them. It’s a great two-way street because you gain something and you give something.

Shaka Smart understands there’s a difference between spending your life preparing for something and then doing it. So when he picked up the phone in his office at the University of Florida last Friday and heard Virginia Commonwealth University Athletic Director Norwood Teague ask if he was interested in becoming the Rams’ new basketball coach, Smart was as sure as he could be.

He’s Smart, young and considered a fast riser in the world of college basketball assistant coaches. Soon, Shaka Smart will get the chance to prove the prediction of those who know and have worked with him—that he will become a successful head coach.

The interview process is almost finished. When it is - probably sometime today - Virginia Commonwealth Athletic Director Norwood Teague will try to nail down his choice to become the Rams’ new basketball coach. Teague interviewed Texas assistant coach Russell Springmann and Florida assistant coach Shaka Smart on Saturday. He talked to Navy head coach Billy Lange yesterday after receiving permission from Navy Athletic Director Chet Gladchuk.

Last week the news local basketball fans feared came to pass. VCU basketball coach Anthony Grant announced he had accepted an offer to become head coach at the University of Alabama. Grant’s three-year record with the Rams made him one of the hottest properties in the college game. The upset of Duke in the 2007 NCAA tournament made his departure for loftier precincts all but inevitable. The Colonial Athletic Association has spunk. In 2006, George Mason advanced to the Final Four, for instance; this year VCU came within a basket of toppling UCLA in the dance’s first round. Nevertheless, the CAA does not rank with the Big East, the ACC, the Big 12—or, for that matter, with the SEC that is Alabama’s home league.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.—Anthony Grant was Alabama’s first choice to lead its basketball program. Grant said last night that Alabama was his first choice, too. “This is where I want to be, this is where I think we can do some special things,“ Grant said at his introductory news conference on campus.

After three spectacular seasons that put Virginia Commonwealth University in the national spotlight, Rams basketball coach Anthony Grant is moving on to Alabama. Grant told The Times-Dispatch yesterday that he agreed in principle to become the Crimson Tide’s coach. He said he could not comment on his contract or other aspects of his decision because of some legal issues that needed to be resolved, but that a news conference is expected tomorrow.

After three spectacular seasons that put Virginia Commonwealth University in the national spotlight, Rams basketball coach Anthony Grant is moving on to Alabama. Grant told The Times-Dispatch yesterday that he agreed in principle to become the Crimson Tide’s coach. He said he could not comment on his contract or other aspects of his decision because of some legal issues that needed to be resolved. A news conference has been scheduled at Alabama tomorrow at 7 p.m.

Virginia Commonwealth University coach Anthony Grant said he has agreed in principle to become Alabama’s coach. Grant told The Times-Dispatch this evening that he could not comment further, but a press conference is expected on Sunday.

Is Anthony Grant now a candidate-in-waiting for Florida? Just Wednesday, the Virginia Commonwealth University basketball coach was being given the on-campus VIP treatment at Alabama, a school in search of a coach.

Craig Littlepage, athletic director at the University of Virginia, hasn’t called, texted or Twittered for advice on his search for a men’s basketball coach. Surely that’s just an oversight. He must be caught in traffic on Route 29. Hey, been there, done that. His call no doubt will come at any moment, but here’s the list of top candidates, just in case the line is busy.

VCU coach Anthony Grant toured the University of Alabama yesterday. The school is searching for a new coach. Alabama rolled out the red carpet for Anthony Grant yesterday.

Is Anthony Grant headed to Alabama? A decision could come today. Virginia Commonwealth University’s third-year basketball traveled to Alabama today for a second round of meetings with University officials.

Virginia Commonwealth University basketball coach Anthony Grant is expected to travel to Alabama Wednesday and visit the campus as he weighs the prospect of becoming the Crimson Tide’s coach, according to a source close to the situation. Two Alabama newspapers are reporting that Grant is likely to be offered the job. Grant met with Alabama officials Sunday to discuss the Tide’s vacant coaching position. Sources said Alabama Athletic Director Mal Moore and Executive Athletic Director Dave Hart came to Richmond to meet with Grant but did not offer him the job.