Is the roster set, or does Dennis Gates still have some tricks up his sleeve?
Missouri basketball has been near-silent in the transfer portal for the past nine days. Since freshman center Peyton Marshall announced he was transferring out of the program and Arizona State transfer center Shawn Phillips Jr. announced he committed to Mizzou, both on April 13, nothing else has moved in Columbia.
The Tigers have made four transfer portal additions in this window, which have mainly addressed the frontcourt. Phillips is likely to slot into a traditional big man role, while 6-foot-11 transfers Jevon Porter and Luke Northweather will likely fill role-part stretch-four duties. In the backcourt, Mizzou has added UCLA’s Sebastian Mack.
The transfer portal closes at end of day Tuesday, meaning this is the last day most players can put their name in the database. Since the paperwork takes some time to process, it should be clear exactly who and how many players are in the portal by Thursday.
Mizzou still has room to make two more additions The transfer portal deadline is only for new entries, meaning the Tigers can still sign players once it shuts. Graduate students and players whose team has a coaching change can enter the portal at any time.
As the transfer portal winds toward the end, here’s where Missouri basketball stands:
What will be Mizzou basketball’s main target areas in transfer portal?
If Missouri is going to add any more players, shooting guards and wings, like they have been for most of the portal window, are likely to be the main target areas.
Three players who Mizzou reportedly has contacted — UT Martin combo guard Tarence Guinyard; Southern Illinois wing Kennard Davis Jr.; and Syracuse wing Chris Bell — remain uncommitted, but it’s unclear how much MU is still chasing each prospect.
Davis and Bell have taken multiple Power-conference visits, and not to Columbia. Guinyard’s recruitment has been fairly quiet recently. Beyond those players, Missouri’s name hasn’t popped up too often in reports associated with portal recruits.
That doesn’t mean Missouri isn’t actively recruiting anyone, but rather that the Tigers are keeping it quiet if they are.
Mizzou still needs players to play the perimeter spots. Tamar Bates and Caleb Grill are absolutely players the Tigers must replace, either with significant improvement from the returning players or with new production from the portal.
There isn’t any overwhelming rush, either. The portal only closes for new entries at end of day Tuesday. Mizzou can still make signings as late as May and June, if the players are still available.
But, the needs remain the same.
Will MU definitely make more additions?
Mizzou’s rosters under Gates have been fairly consistent when it comes to depth: The coach wants as many players available as possible. He has carried an average of 17 players on a team over his three seasons in Columbia. He’s never had fewer than 15 players on a roster, which is the most he is allowed this year as new rules are expected to arrive.
Gates told the Tribune ahead of the 2023-24 season, when the Tigers had 18 players on the roster, that he needed “about five more spots.”
That is to say, it would be a surprise if Mizzou didn’t take their roster size all the way to the capacity. Fans should expect more portal activity.
If Missouri doesn’t sign anyone, who has to step up?
This is purely hypothetical and, for all the reasons listed above, not expected.
But, for argument’s sake and to help illustrate where the roster currently stands, let’s say that Missouri doesn’t make any new additions, and the Tigers run into next season with the 13 players on the roster. Here’s what that would look like, position by position:
- Point guards: Anthony Robinson II; T.O. Barrett; Aaron Rowe
- Combo/shooting guards: Sebastian Mack
- Small forwards/wings: Jacob Crews; Annor Boateng; Trent Pierce
- Power forwards: Mark Mitchell; Jevon Porter; Luke Northweather; Nicholas Randall
- Centers: Shawn Phillips Jr.; Trent Burns
If that’s that, who needs to make a major developmental leap?
Crews and Pierce would be the experienced heads on the perimeter, and would actually give the Tigers some intriguing size, at 6-9 and 6-11, respectively, in the primary shooting roles. But, they’d both need to make noticeable defensive strides and produce far more consistently on the offensive end. If the Tigers can develop Boateng into a starter, all the better for depth.
Mitchell and Phillips look likely to be the primary starters at the four and the five, and Gates can adjust around them depending on how big or small he wants to play.
Robinson and Barrett both have the potential to double as shooting guards, if necessary, and the coaching staff may opt to use either in that capacity next season. Minutes already could be stretched thin at the point, though.