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No one likes missing out on top recruits like Missouri has over the years. Especially when they are viewed as “native kids.” Not just in the last few years, but for decades.
There are wins everywhere, and the 2017 recruiting class is highly touted and will hopefully right many wrongs. But when Conzo Martin started missing out on top local recruits, things went back to normal.
The transfer portal then brought many familiar names back into our lives, names we previously thought we no longer cared about. Last year it was Caleb Love, a glaring miss for Martin. Love flirted with Missouri before choosing Michigan, and he landed at Arizona after failing to meet Michigan’s high standards for transfer admissions.
It’s a new portal season, but many familiar names are still floating around the halls of Missouri Arena. Talis Reed, Jevon Porter, Mark Mitchell.
It happened again, didn’t it?
Taris Reed
Reed is a top-50 4-star 6-10 forward out of St. Louis who is a target for Cuonzo Martin in the 2022 class. Classmate with Aidan Shaw. Reed left Missouri soon after, eventually signing with Juwan Howard and Michigan State. Things didn’t go as planned, with Howard being relieved of his duties after an eight-win season and Reid taking his meager performance into the transfer portal.
As soon as Reed entered the portal, he connected with Mizzou almost immediately. We’re getting information that Reid’s camp was in contact with some contacts in Missouri even before entering the portal. So it looked like it might happen soon, until it didn’t.
Reed headed to Kansas State and then UConn this weekend, but that visit never materialized. UCLA has also become interested. Interest in Missouri has waned.
Much of the recruiting was hazy, but the back-to-the-rim big man style was a bit at odds with Dennis Gates’ preferred five-and-out strategy from the start. But it looks like the financial situation may be more problematic. The Tigers were hoping to find an answer at the five, but with more pressing needs at the point position, they couldn’t make those numbers count.
I’m not sure the door is completely closed on Reed and homeschool reunions, but it seems much more likely now than it did a few weeks ago.
Jevon Porter
The name Porter is familiar in these parts. Jevon, the younger brother of Missouri legends Michael Jr and Jontay, has kept a lower profile than his brothers but still managed to rank among the top 100 recruits in the 2022 recruiting class.
Porter was never a target for Missouri, in large part because he committed early to Lorenzo Romar and Pepperdine. Romar was a close friend of the Porter family and one of the main reasons Michael Jr. committed to Washington before he was fired in the spring of 2017.
But there was a lot to like about Jevon coming out of high school. He is tall, skilled and can shoot the ball well. Much like his brothers. After a very good freshman season (shooting 48.5% / 35.1% / 70.6%), Porter suffered a slight decline due to a minor knee injury that kept him out of the game his sophomore season. He missed the first 12 games but still averaged over 16 points per game, albeit with less efficiency.
After Romar was sacked (again), Potter entered the transfer portal. His recruitment has been very low-key. Probably because his family was… dealing with a lot.
But Mizzou is familiar, so that makes sense, right? Silence makes this article a bit difficult to read. We still think Porter is likely headed to Columbia. Being close to home, with a chance to play in a system that works for him, surrounded by a deeper bench and talent, could be just what he needs to take the next step.
We’ll see.
Mark Mitchell
Among the recruits who will re-enter the University of Missouri in 2022, the highest-rated recruit is Duke transfer student Mark Mitchell. A 6-foot-9 combo forward with good athleticism and skill around the rim, Mitchell was relegated to a role player behind the Celtics in his final two years at Duke. After L. Filipkovsky. With another top-ranked recruiting class entering Durham, Mitchell took the opportunity to explore his options in the transfer portal.
Mitchell graduated from Bishop Miege HS at Sunrise Christian Academy in Roland Park, Kansas, where he was a McDonald’s All-American and a top-20 five-star recruit.
Missouri recruited Mitchell heavily, but while the Tigers were also considered, the decision at the time fell to Duke or UCLA.
But will he listen to the speech now?
As we know, most transfer portals boil down to “zero.” Mitchell is not cheap. For good reason, even as a role player he posted a strong 1.17 ppp, 56% eFG, and 58% true shooting last season. Low turnovers, high blocks, few fouls, more fouls… In many ways, Mitchell is a comprehensive player.
So what kind of role does he hope to play? That remains to be seen. But Dennis Gates could put on tape of Kobe Brown and show Mitchell how he improved his 3-point shooting from 21 percent to 40 percent in one offseason. Mitchell shot just 27% from three-point range last season.
Looks like you have a good figure. Is the money suitable?
This is where the problem lies.
If you’re a Rockm.plus subscriber, Matthew Harris and Matt Watkins have both done in-depth research on these hires and can provide the latest updates on each. If you are interested in Hoops recruitment/portal, I suggest you follow the forum.
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