Missouri talent 2012

Posted on: July 11, 2018 at 20:58:07 CT

About ten threads below, Fijitiger shared a “study” I performed and posted in a series several years ago which examined the top ten Missouri high school basketball recruits in each class from 2002-2011. Among other purposes was to see exactly how successful Missouri kids had gone on to become during their college and pro careers, whether they were “booms” or “busts”, and how Mizzou might be able to fare were we consistently able to “lock down the borders.” I thought the results were interesting in that classes varied wildly from year to year and players often tremendously exceeded or failed to live up to their hype. I would invite you to review Fijitiger’s “Missouri Talent” post lower on the page if you are the least bit interested.

The last year I studied was 2011, which was an absolutely loaded Missouri class (Beal, McLemore, B.J. Young, Otto Porter) and perhaps unfortunately the year we transitioned from MA to Haith and basically had no recruiting class. By comparison, the 2010 class was a virtual wasteland (Ricky Kreklow from Rock Bridge was the top player.)

Here is the 2012 class in all it’s glory. Oddly enough, the top two players on the list ended up at Mizzou (at least at some point) but will hardly ever be considered Mizzou Legends:

1. Cameron Biedscheid. 6-7 SF. St. Louis (Cardinal Ritter)

A consensus four-star, top-60 recruit, Biedscheid only marginally considered Mizzou out of high school and signed with Notre Dame over offers from Iowa, Illinois and Indiana. What is somewhat forgotten if you followed Biedscheid’s odyssey is that he had a promising freshman season, averaging 6.2 ppg playing significant minutes on a good Irish team. Then the wheels fell off. Before his sophomore year, it was announced he would sit out the entire season as a redshirt (rumored but not confirmed to be for academic reasons.) Mid-season, he transferred to Mizzou during Haith’s final year as coach. Prior to the 14-15 season (KA’s first year), it went completely haywire. He left Mizzou and transferred to Iona, then left Iona and transferred to Jacksonville State (low-major in Alabama.) During the 15-16 season, he quit Jacksonville State after only five games and enrolled at NAIA LSU-Shreveport. He averaged 22 ppg at Shreveport during the 16-17 season before being kicked off the team after 8 games. He immediately enrolled at NAIA Harris-Stowe in Missouri (there are no transfer limitations in NAIA) and contributed marginally. Then he was done. A complete bust and one of the most mysterious stories of my entire study.

2. Ryan Rosburg. 6-9 C. Chesterfield (Marquette)

Rosburg was actually considered a 4-star recruit by 247.Com, but more generally a 3-star and was listed as the number 30 Center in the class by Rivals. As we all know, he committed to Mizzou and became one of the few players in recent memory to actually play at Mizzou during all four seasons of his eligibility. For that, I give him respect. He came on right at the end of his senior season and endured two brutal years under KA , so I won’t really label him as a bust.

3. Jordon Granger. 6-9 PF. Florissant (McCluer North)

Raw 3-star talent was never recruited by Mizzou and committed to Auburn over Detroit-Mercy and a late offer from Arkansas. Played very sparingly his first two years, then developed into a contributor, averaging about 5 ppg and 3 rpg his junior and senior seasons. Career stats were similar to Rosburg’s so he probably basically lived up to expectations but didnt exceed them.

4. D.J. Johnson. 6-8 PF. St. Louis (Parkway North)

2-Star talent developed late and committed to K-State over Memphis and Virginia Tech. Had a very solid (if not spectacular) five-year career for the Wildcats (redshirted his third year with a foot injury.). Averaged 11.3 ppg and 5.7 rpg as a senior and was an honorable mention All Big-12 selection. A “boom.”

5. Marvin Clark Jr. 6-6 PF. Blue Springs (H.S.)

Clark came from an extremely impoverished background, bounced around schools as a local “playground legend” in Kansas City, then was placed with a family in Blue Springs where he was second team All-State his senior year. Completely ineligible, he went to Sunrise Christian Academy in Wichita. It took two more years for him to become eligible and move from a two-star to a borderline four-star recruit. He committed to Michigan St. as a member of the 2014 class over offers from Iowa St., Indiana and Seton Hall. He was a solid role player off the bench on solid Spartans teams his first two years, then transferred to St. John’s. Last season, he averaged 12.5 ppg and 4.7 rpg for the Red Storm and will return for his senior season as a 24 year old senior next year. A good story and a “Boom.”

6. Roderick Newbill. 6-6 SF. Kansas City (Hogan Prep)

2-star recruit committed to Fresno St. Following a redshirt year, he barely played the next season then transferred to UMKC. He was a middling player for the Kangaroos. Started ever game as a senior and averaged about 9 ppg. He did have a good game with 10 points in his first ever performance for UMKC when they beat us in KA’s debut.

7. Shaquille Harrison. 6-4 SG. Lee’s Summit (West)

Haith never recruited him at Mizzou, but ironically ended up with him when he took over at Tulsa. Two-star recruit picked Tulsa over Miami (OH), Northeasterm and Tennessee Tech. Started all four seasons for the Golden Hurricane, earning All AAC 2nd team honors as a junior and senior. During Haith’s first season at Tulsa, he led them to an NCAA tournament berth, averaging 15 ppg and 6 rpg. After two seasons toiling in the D-League/ G-League, he signed a free agent contract with the Phoenix Suns midway through last season and contributed 6.6 ppg and 2.7 rpg. A major Boom. You never know.....

8. Paul McRoberts. 6-3 SG. St. Louis (Soldan)

A Two-star recruit, McRoberts committed to SEMO on a football scholarship, intending to play on the basketball team as well. He never played basketball, but developed into an FCS second-team All-American as a wide receiver. He signed a free agent contract with the L.A. Rams prior to the 2016 NFL season, and following a year on the practice squad, appeared in two games for the Rams during the 2017 season.

9. Lawrence Brown. 6-5. SF. Kansas City (Barstow)

One-star recruit picked Mercer over Omaha and Drake. Played sparingly at the NCAA low-level for three seasons then spent his final year at Division II Missouri Southerm, where he averaged 9.4 ppg and 8.0 rpg during the 16-17 season.

10. Greg Tucker. 6-2 SG. Charleston (H.S.)

One-Star recruit picked Northern Colorado over UMKC and SEMO. Lasted only a year at NCU, playing sparingly, spent a season at Mineral Area JuCo, then had a decent two years at Jacksonville State (he just missed playing with Biedscheid.). 11.3 ppg as a senior.