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2015 Missouri Talent
Posted on: July 17, 2018 at 19:54:32 CT
quicksand MU
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Continuing my study of the top ten high school basketball prospects from state of Missouri each season, I hesitated to even compile this list because most of the players are still in college, but what the heck. I can always update it in a few years for better perspective. Following three years of relatively poor classes, this one was very solid, if highly under-rated. Mizzou actually signed two guys on this list (three if you count different sports) but they weren’t the ideal players.
1. Jimmy Whitt. 6-4 SG. Columbia (Hickman)
Four-star recruit (rated #55 nationally by Rivals and #77 by ESPN), Mizzou recruited the home town kid hard, but he always seemed destined for Arkansas, having built a strong relationship with Mike Anderson’s staff while growing up. He did, in fact, sign with the Razorbacks over Mizzou, SMU, Marquette, Colorado and Illinois. He had a fairly solid freshman season at Arkansas (6.1 ppg and 1.7 rpg) then, for whatever reason, soured on MA’s program and transferred to SMU. Following a season sitting out under NCAA transfer rules, he was a good sixth-man/ part-time starter for the Mustangs last season (10.5 ppg and 5.2 rpg.). A work in progress.
2. Juwan Morgan. 6-8 PF. Waynesville (H.S.)
Small-town big-man was a four-star recruit, rated as high as #109 nationally by Rivals. Mizzou had been recruiting him for several years but his interest waned following KA’s disastrous first season. He chose Indiana over Creighton, Iowa, Cuonzo Martin’s California team, and Mizzou. He had numbers of 2 ppg and 2 rpg as a freshman then 8 ppg and 6 rpg as a sophomore under Tom Crean. Last year, under new coach Archie Miller, he flourished, averaging 16.5 ppg and 7.4 rpg and was named second-team all Big 10. Declared for 2018 NBA Draft without an agent but withdrew name and returned to Indiana, where he looks to be one of the top returning players in the conference. Better than advertised.
3. Landry Shamet. 6-4 PG. Kansas City (Park Hill)
Virtually unrecruited by Mizzou, Shamet was a four-star (#88 nationally by Rivals), and three-star recruit by ESPN. He committed to Wichita St. over offers from Colorado, Creighton and Boise St. After sitting out his first season with a foot injury, he was the starting point guard on two excellent Shockers squads (11 ppg and 3 apg as a redshirt freshman; 15 ppg and 5 apg as a sophomore), being named first team All-MVC both years. He declared for the 2018 NBA Draft with an agent and was selected #26 overall in the first round by the Philadelphia 76ers. Another glowing example of Gregg Marshall identifying and developing undervalued talent.
4. Ogugua “O.G.” Anunoby. 6-7 PF Jefferson City (H.S.)
Raw, but wildly athletic forward from 30 miles down the road, he never received an offer from Mizzou despite having been highly recommended by his high school coach, who had previously played under KA at Central Missouri. Consensus three-star recruit caught the eye of Tom Crean during an AAU tournament and picked Indiana over Georgia. His numbers weren’t eye-popping for the Hoosiers (4.9 ppg and 2.6 rpg as a freshman; 11.1 ppg and 5.4 rpg as a sophomore in 16 games before a knee injury ended his season), but he was identified as a relentless defender and athlete. Declared for the 2017 NBA Draft following his sophomore season and was selected #23 overall in he first round by the Toronto Raptors. Immediately broke into the starting lineup on a very good Toronto team as a rookie, posting 5.9 ppg and 2.5 rpg, and serving as a role player and defensive stopper. Wildly underrecruited, he would seem to be the type of guy KA could actually have signed, though it is unknown how he would have developed here during that particular era.
5. Kevin Puryear. 6-7 PF. Blue Springs (H.S.)
Elevated to a consensus three-star status after leading Blue Springs to a state championship, Puryear had already committed early to Mizzou, over interest from Creighton and Miami (OH). He was a pleasant surprise under KA (albeit on very limited teams) averaging 11 ppg and 5 rpg his first two seasons. His numbers dropped a bit last year on a more talented roster of big men, but he will return as an important part of the team next year as a senior. He has had a good Mizzou career and has proven he was worthy of the offer, if only as a role player.
6. Drew Lock. 6-3 SG. Lee’s Summit (H.S.)
Truth be known, Lock may have appeared higher on this list had he not been one of the most highly recruited quarterbacks nationally in his class. He received offers from Oklahoma and Wichita St. to play basketball but it was inevitable that football was his game. We all know the rest.....
7. Cullen VanLeer. 6-3 SG. Pacific (H.S.)
VanLeer also committed early to Mizzou over interest from Evansville, Lehigh and Southwest Missouri St. (I still call them that.). Not to besmirch him, but he likely would have fared better at one of those other schools. Advertised as a deadeye shooter, that never came close to fruition but he earned substantial playing time as a team-player despite being less athletic than necessary in the SEC conference. As well all know, he suffered an unfortunate knee injury late last season and his future is in doubt. Regardless of the above, he came to Mizzou during the only season or two in the modern era where it was conceivable he would have been offered a scholarship and will remain a True Son for his dedication to the program.
8. Anthony Pratt. 6-6. SF. St. Louis (Christian Academy)
A three-star recruit by Rivals, but unrated by the other recruiting sites, the raw prospect committed to Eastern Kentucky out of high school. He averaged 2.8 ppg and 2.5 rpg for the Colonels as a freshman, then left for Midland JC in Texas. He failed to score in five games at Midland, then left the team and returned to his native Bahamas, where it appears he has played for some semi-pro Caribbean teams (whatever those are...do they play on the beach?)
9. Alex Floresca. 6-7 PF. Webster Groves (H.S.)
A three-star recruit by Rivals, but unranked by the other recruiting sites, he committed to San Diego (not to be confused with San Diego St.) out of high school. He posted numbers of 2.5 ppg and 1.8 rpg as a freshman, sat out the next season with a shoulder injury, then posted 2.6 ppg and 1,9 rpg last year for the Toreros.
10. Casey Teson. 6-2 SG. St. Charles (H.S.)
Two-star recruit picked Eastern Illinois over Eastern Kentucky and Western Illinois. He posted numbers of about 7 ppg and 2 rpg during two seasons for the Panthers, then left for Divison II Maryville in St. Louis, where he chipped in 11.8 ppg and 3.5 rpg last year.
Edited by quicksand at 19:58:41 on 07/17/18
1. Jimmy Whitt. 6-4 SG. Columbia (Hickman)
Four-star recruit (rated #55 nationally by Rivals and #77 by ESPN), Mizzou recruited the home town kid hard, but he always seemed destined for Arkansas, having built a strong relationship with Mike Anderson’s staff while growing up. He did, in fact, sign with the Razorbacks over Mizzou, SMU, Marquette, Colorado and Illinois. He had a fairly solid freshman season at Arkansas (6.1 ppg and 1.7 rpg) then, for whatever reason, soured on MA’s program and transferred to SMU. Following a season sitting out under NCAA transfer rules, he was a good sixth-man/ part-time starter for the Mustangs last season (10.5 ppg and 5.2 rpg.). A work in progress.
2. Juwan Morgan. 6-8 PF. Waynesville (H.S.)
Small-town big-man was a four-star recruit, rated as high as #109 nationally by Rivals. Mizzou had been recruiting him for several years but his interest waned following KA’s disastrous first season. He chose Indiana over Creighton, Iowa, Cuonzo Martin’s California team, and Mizzou. He had numbers of 2 ppg and 2 rpg as a freshman then 8 ppg and 6 rpg as a sophomore under Tom Crean. Last year, under new coach Archie Miller, he flourished, averaging 16.5 ppg and 7.4 rpg and was named second-team all Big 10. Declared for 2018 NBA Draft without an agent but withdrew name and returned to Indiana, where he looks to be one of the top returning players in the conference. Better than advertised.
3. Landry Shamet. 6-4 PG. Kansas City (Park Hill)
Virtually unrecruited by Mizzou, Shamet was a four-star (#88 nationally by Rivals), and three-star recruit by ESPN. He committed to Wichita St. over offers from Colorado, Creighton and Boise St. After sitting out his first season with a foot injury, he was the starting point guard on two excellent Shockers squads (11 ppg and 3 apg as a redshirt freshman; 15 ppg and 5 apg as a sophomore), being named first team All-MVC both years. He declared for the 2018 NBA Draft with an agent and was selected #26 overall in the first round by the Philadelphia 76ers. Another glowing example of Gregg Marshall identifying and developing undervalued talent.
4. Ogugua “O.G.” Anunoby. 6-7 PF Jefferson City (H.S.)
Raw, but wildly athletic forward from 30 miles down the road, he never received an offer from Mizzou despite having been highly recommended by his high school coach, who had previously played under KA at Central Missouri. Consensus three-star recruit caught the eye of Tom Crean during an AAU tournament and picked Indiana over Georgia. His numbers weren’t eye-popping for the Hoosiers (4.9 ppg and 2.6 rpg as a freshman; 11.1 ppg and 5.4 rpg as a sophomore in 16 games before a knee injury ended his season), but he was identified as a relentless defender and athlete. Declared for the 2017 NBA Draft following his sophomore season and was selected #23 overall in he first round by the Toronto Raptors. Immediately broke into the starting lineup on a very good Toronto team as a rookie, posting 5.9 ppg and 2.5 rpg, and serving as a role player and defensive stopper. Wildly underrecruited, he would seem to be the type of guy KA could actually have signed, though it is unknown how he would have developed here during that particular era.
5. Kevin Puryear. 6-7 PF. Blue Springs (H.S.)
Elevated to a consensus three-star status after leading Blue Springs to a state championship, Puryear had already committed early to Mizzou, over interest from Creighton and Miami (OH). He was a pleasant surprise under KA (albeit on very limited teams) averaging 11 ppg and 5 rpg his first two seasons. His numbers dropped a bit last year on a more talented roster of big men, but he will return as an important part of the team next year as a senior. He has had a good Mizzou career and has proven he was worthy of the offer, if only as a role player.
6. Drew Lock. 6-3 SG. Lee’s Summit (H.S.)
Truth be known, Lock may have appeared higher on this list had he not been one of the most highly recruited quarterbacks nationally in his class. He received offers from Oklahoma and Wichita St. to play basketball but it was inevitable that football was his game. We all know the rest.....
7. Cullen VanLeer. 6-3 SG. Pacific (H.S.)
VanLeer also committed early to Mizzou over interest from Evansville, Lehigh and Southwest Missouri St. (I still call them that.). Not to besmirch him, but he likely would have fared better at one of those other schools. Advertised as a deadeye shooter, that never came close to fruition but he earned substantial playing time as a team-player despite being less athletic than necessary in the SEC conference. As well all know, he suffered an unfortunate knee injury late last season and his future is in doubt. Regardless of the above, he came to Mizzou during the only season or two in the modern era where it was conceivable he would have been offered a scholarship and will remain a True Son for his dedication to the program.
8. Anthony Pratt. 6-6. SF. St. Louis (Christian Academy)
A three-star recruit by Rivals, but unrated by the other recruiting sites, the raw prospect committed to Eastern Kentucky out of high school. He averaged 2.8 ppg and 2.5 rpg for the Colonels as a freshman, then left for Midland JC in Texas. He failed to score in five games at Midland, then left the team and returned to his native Bahamas, where it appears he has played for some semi-pro Caribbean teams (whatever those are...do they play on the beach?)
9. Alex Floresca. 6-7 PF. Webster Groves (H.S.)
A three-star recruit by Rivals, but unranked by the other recruiting sites, he committed to San Diego (not to be confused with San Diego St.) out of high school. He posted numbers of 2.5 ppg and 1.8 rpg as a freshman, sat out the next season with a shoulder injury, then posted 2.6 ppg and 1,9 rpg last year for the Toreros.
10. Casey Teson. 6-2 SG. St. Charles (H.S.)
Two-star recruit picked Eastern Illinois over Eastern Kentucky and Western Illinois. He posted numbers of about 7 ppg and 2 rpg during two seasons for the Panthers, then left for Divison II Maryville in St. Louis, where he chipped in 11.8 ppg and 3.5 rpg last year.
Edited by quicksand at 19:58:41 on 07/17/18
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2015 Missouri Talent - quicksand MU - 7/17 19:54:32
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