Missouri Talent 2014

Posted on: July 14, 2018 at 21:22:33 CT

Continuing my series tracking the careers to the ten highest rated players from the state of Missouri each year, this brings us to the class of 2013, which was KA’s first recruiting class at Mizzou. Granted, he got a late start, so it is not terribly surprising that we landed zero players on this list for the second consecutive year, at least out of high school (we would get two of them later on). Again, no can’t miss or top-50 prospects were in this class for the third consecutive year:

1. Jordan Barnett. 6-7 SF. St. Louis (CBC)

Barnett was a 4-star recruit, ranked #70 nationally by Rivals and #86 by ESPN. Mizzou showed plenty of interest, but he was solidly committed to Texas over Florida, Kansas St. and Stanford. His numbers were meager (1.9 ppg and 1.3 rpg) in his freshman season under Rick Barnes. As a sophomore under new coach Shaka Smart, he averaged 3.3 ppg and 2.4 rpg then was largely benched the remainder of the first semester. He left Texas at the break and transferred to Mizzou, becoming the best player to enter our program during the KA era. We know the rest. He was a solid player for the Tigers for one and a half seasons and has performed well for the Milwaukee Bucks summer league team. He’ll likely be in the G-League next year and, assuming he never makes the NBA, seems destined for a good career overseas. After a mysteriously tepid start at Texas, he lived up to expectations at Mizzou.

2. Tory Miller-Stewart. 6-8 PF. Lee’s Summit (North)

He headed to New Hampton Prep in New Hampshire for his senior season and committed to Colorado over Arkansas, Marquette, Creighton and Nebraska. Three-star recruit was a solid four-year role player for the Buffs with career averages of about 5 ppg and 4 rpg. Started a a junior and senior.

3. Patrick McCaw. 6-7 SF. St. Louis (CBC)

CBC won the state championship without him, but imagine how good they would have been had McCaw not headed to Montrose Christian Prep in Maryland for his senior year. Mizzou recruited him, but he committed as a late-offer, three star recruit to UNLV over Bradley, Illinois St. and Loyola-Chicago. He blossomed as a freshman for the Runnin’ Rebels, averaging 12.2 ppg and 4.2 rpg. As a sophomore, he was named second team All-Mountain West with numbers of 14.7 ppg and 5.2 rpg. He declared for the 2016 NBA Draft and was selected #38 overall in the second round by the Milwaukee Bucks, who traded him to the Golden St. Warriors on draft night. He made a loaded roster and has been an end-of-the- bench player for the Warriors, earning two NBA Championship Rings. Immensely under-recruited out of high school.

4. Ronnie Suggs. 6-4 SG. Washington (H.S.)

Suggs was a three-star recruit out of high school, who had actually verbally committed to Mizzou when he was a junior, but opted to spend a post-graduate year at Vermont Academy. He remained a three-star recruit after his prep season and picked Bradley over Mizzou and SIU. He had a promising freshman campaign for the Braves (8.5 ppg and 4.0 rpg), before falling into disfavor as a sophomore (1.9 ppg and 1.8 rpg appearing in only 16 games.). He left Bradley and transferred to Mizzou as a walk-on. He sat out last season pursuant to NCAA rules and it seems he could be our best walk-on since Matt Lawrence.

5. Austin Gillman 6-11 C. St. Louis (Oakville)

Rated a 3-star by ESPN, raw big man committed early to SLU. Averaged about 3 ppg and 2 rpg off the bench for the Salukis his first two seasons, then played sparingly as a junior under new coach Travis Ford. He left the team prior to his senior season and remained a student to pursue his degree. Bust.

6. Chris Kendrix. 6-5 SG. Willard (H.S.)

3-Star Rivals recruit committed early to Southwest Missouri St. (I still call them that.). By his sophomore season, he was one of the team’s better players (12.1 ppg and 4.8 rpg.).
His numbers dropped to 5.4 ppg and 2.8 rpg as a junior, then, for whatever reason, he left for Division II Minnesota St. last year, where he contributed 12.2 ppg and 7.0 rpg, playing power forward.

7. Josh Robinson. 6-2 SG. St. Louis (St. Mary’s)

2-star Rivals recruit chose Austin Peay over SEMO and Youngstown St. Averaged 10 ppg as a freshman and 17 ppg as a sophomore (All Ohio Valley 2nd Team.) He was averaging 20.3 ppg as a junior when he was dismissed by the Governors late in the season following an arrest on drug charges. Declared for the 2017 NBA Draft where, not surprisingly, he went undrafted. Played professionally last year in the Czech Republic. Very good player, albeit with issues, at the low-major level.

8. Rashad Lindsey 5-10 PG. St. Louis (Mary Institute Country Day)

2-star Rivals recruit committed to Tennessee-Martin out of high school but failed to qualify. Headed to Moberly Area C.C. where he started at point guard for two years, averaging over 12 ppg and 4 apg. He remained committed to Tennessee-Martin throughout, but reneged and accepted a late offer from Arkansas St. He was the Red Wolves starting point guard the last two years (10 ppg and 2 apg). Decent player for his rating.

9. Chris Clark. 6-2 SG. Columbia (Hickman)

Jimmy Whitt’s (class of 2015) running mate on Hickman’s State runner-up to CBC, he also committed to Tennessee-Martin out of high school, but failed to qualify and headed to Moberly. He averaged 9 ppg and 2 rpg for his two JuCo seasons, then committed to Divison II New Mexico Highlands, where he lasted only three games. Apparently, no longer playing.

10. Cornell Johnston 5-6 PG Ladue (Horton Watkins)

Nicknamed “Lil T,” Johnston committed to Eastern Illinois out of high school. “T” referred to the name of his biological father, Terrell Lewis. He was a solid and consistent starting point guard all four year for the Panthers, averaging around 10 ppg and 5 apg every season and becoming a fan favorite for his diminutive size. Legally changed his name to Terrell Lewis Jr. during his junior season.