All right so let's start with basketball stuff that isn't exactly recruiting, but is obviously going to affect recruiting. If you live under a rock and haven't read the board for the last three weeks, Jontay Porter put his name in the draft, but will not sign with an agent....
YET.
The truth of the matter is everyone we've talked to for the last three weeks is telling us the same thing: While he's leaving the door open to return, the chances of him returning are remote. At this point, if Jontay is told there's no chance he's a first round pick, he'll be back. If there's a chance he goes in the first round (and there is most definitely a chance) we've seen the last of him in a Mizzou uniform.
We can debate this all we want. But this family knows a lot of NBA people and will have good information before making a final decision (that doesn't mean he'll go first round, but they'll have an idea how likely it is). Plenty of factors at play here:
1. He reclassified to play with his brother. WELP.
2. Sometimes, going to class and being a student is not viewed as the most desirable path.
3. He can make money.
Again, disagree if you want and there are a lot of valid arguments to be made that he should come back. But if he wants to go, he'll go. We aren't saying it's impossible he comes back. But based on everyone we have talked to, it would be a surprise. The staff is certainly operating as if he isn't coming back.
BASKETBALL RECRUITING
Speaking of which, here is Keegan's breakdown of where things stand, which was published about an hour before Jontay's announcement.
So let's run down where things stand individually. We'll start on the transfer market:
Missouri is in on a number of transfers, as I outlined here yesterday. In addition, they've made contact with Pitt transfer Parker Stewart and McNeese transfer Kalob Ledoux, but there hasn't been much about where they stand with those two guys, and I haven't been able to get in touch with either.
Aaron Calixte from Maine is one of the more sought-after grad transfers on the market, and my money is on him ending up at Oklahoma. I still think it's possible he visits Mizzou and maybe even ends up here, but I think Grand Canyon and Oklahoma being his first visits show how much of a priority they've made him.
David Nichols is a relatively new name on Missouri's board, and he's visiting Florida State this weekend. When I spoke to him a little bit yesterday, he sounded pretty interested in the Tigers, and both he and his dad have been in contact with the staff. He's still awaiting word from them on setting up a visit.
We've been unable to get in touch with Evansville transfers Ryan Taylor and Dru Smith because a "writer" who shall not be named overloaded their Twitter DMs and made them averse to talking to reporters right now. I've got a good source that says they're both interested in Missouri, and we're hopeful we'll be able to get in touch with them in the next week or so.
As for Mark Smith, we haven't been able to get much out of his camp, though we do know he's planned a visit to Missouri for next weekend. Depending on who you talk to, Smith coming to Missouri could either really help their chances of landing Courtney Ramey or it could completely turn the Rameys off and take Missouri out of the race. I guess we'll see who's right whenever Ramey ends up making a decision.
And before someone asks the questions, transfers can sign with their new school all the way up until the day before classes start. Nearly all of them do it between April and May so they can get on campus, but it's possible some will wait until June or July.
To be crystal clear, Missouri currently has three scholarships available for 2018.
So now let's look at some high school prospects:
Ramey released his top ten last night.
Anybody that tells you they know where he's going or even have a good idea is just lying. Because nobody does. We had a source tell us this week that Mizzou feels good with Ramey. But there's only so good anyone can feel because it's tough to get a read.
Out of that top ten, we'd think you can pretty much cross off Oregon, SMU and Minnesota. Don't see that. South Carolina is probably a long shot, but Frank Martin has put in a lot of work. Ohio State would be surprising.
So that leaves Oklahoma State, Texas, Missouri, Illinois and Louisville. He has already visited OSU and Texas. He was committed to Louisville under Rick Pitino and that's really the interesting one with Chris Mack taking over. Could the Cardinals convince him to come back? If they get a visit, we'd be very wary of Louisville.
Illinois has a point guard (Andres Feliz) coming in this weekend. If he commits, that would seem to take the Illini out of the Ramey race. We've been told that Missouri is trying to set up an official visit with Ramey (potentially next weekend), but so far as we know, no visits have been scheduled at this point in time. He wouldn't have to take an OV to Missouri to end up here. But he's got three left. We'll see which schools get them.
Hinson is on an official visit to Ole Miss this weekend. This is actually probably a positive sign for Missouri. He named a top three of Illinois, Seton Hall and Washington State about a month ago. But if he's taking other visits, he's open to other programs. Would indicate Mizzou has a chance to get him on a visit soon.
Let's call an ideal 2018 class: Courtney Ramey, Blake Hinson and a graduate transfer from somewhere (whichever one Missouri deems the best fit).
Speaking of Sunrise, we're told Missouri is really recruiting Malik Hall hard for 2019. We'd put him in the top tier of 2019 hopefuls at this point. Purdue will be watching him this weekend. The Boilermakers are popping up on the list for a lot of guys Mizzou is targeting. Speaking of which...
Okoro did an interview earlier this week where he mentioned Mizzou as a school he was likely to visit. He's at Oregon this weekend. Purdue and Illinois are big factors here as well. Put him on the high priority 2019 list too.
No new info on Liddell, but while we're talking about high priorities for 2019, he is the highest. This is a kid who you could see with offers from everyone (we're talking Duke, Carolina, Kentucky level) by mid-summer. Missouri's going to be in this one to the very end...but it's going to be a battle for whoever gets him.
YET.
The truth of the matter is everyone we've talked to for the last three weeks is telling us the same thing: While he's leaving the door open to return, the chances of him returning are remote. At this point, if Jontay is told there's no chance he's a first round pick, he'll be back. If there's a chance he goes in the first round (and there is most definitely a chance) we've seen the last of him in a Mizzou uniform.
We can debate this all we want. But this family knows a lot of NBA people and will have good information before making a final decision (that doesn't mean he'll go first round, but they'll have an idea how likely it is). Plenty of factors at play here:
1. He reclassified to play with his brother. WELP.
2. Sometimes, going to class and being a student is not viewed as the most desirable path.
3. He can make money.
Again, disagree if you want and there are a lot of valid arguments to be made that he should come back. But if he wants to go, he'll go. We aren't saying it's impossible he comes back. But based on everyone we have talked to, it would be a surprise. The staff is certainly operating as if he isn't coming back.
BASKETBALL RECRUITING
Speaking of which, here is Keegan's breakdown of where things stand, which was published about an hour before Jontay's announcement.
So let's run down where things stand individually. We'll start on the transfer market:
Missouri is in on a number of transfers, as I outlined here yesterday. In addition, they've made contact with Pitt transfer Parker Stewart and McNeese transfer Kalob Ledoux, but there hasn't been much about where they stand with those two guys, and I haven't been able to get in touch with either.
Aaron Calixte from Maine is one of the more sought-after grad transfers on the market, and my money is on him ending up at Oklahoma. I still think it's possible he visits Mizzou and maybe even ends up here, but I think Grand Canyon and Oklahoma being his first visits show how much of a priority they've made him.
David Nichols is a relatively new name on Missouri's board, and he's visiting Florida State this weekend. When I spoke to him a little bit yesterday, he sounded pretty interested in the Tigers, and both he and his dad have been in contact with the staff. He's still awaiting word from them on setting up a visit.
We've been unable to get in touch with Evansville transfers Ryan Taylor and Dru Smith because a "writer" who shall not be named overloaded their Twitter DMs and made them averse to talking to reporters right now. I've got a good source that says they're both interested in Missouri, and we're hopeful we'll be able to get in touch with them in the next week or so.
As for Mark Smith, we haven't been able to get much out of his camp, though we do know he's planned a visit to Missouri for next weekend. Depending on who you talk to, Smith coming to Missouri could either really help their chances of landing Courtney Ramey or it could completely turn the Rameys off and take Missouri out of the race. I guess we'll see who's right whenever Ramey ends up making a decision.
And before someone asks the questions, transfers can sign with their new school all the way up until the day before classes start. Nearly all of them do it between April and May so they can get on campus, but it's possible some will wait until June or July.
To be crystal clear, Missouri currently has three scholarships available for 2018.
So now let's look at some high school prospects:
Ramey released his top ten last night.
Anybody that tells you they know where he's going or even have a good idea is just lying. Because nobody does. We had a source tell us this week that Mizzou feels good with Ramey. But there's only so good anyone can feel because it's tough to get a read.
Out of that top ten, we'd think you can pretty much cross off Oregon, SMU and Minnesota. Don't see that. South Carolina is probably a long shot, but Frank Martin has put in a lot of work. Ohio State would be surprising.
So that leaves Oklahoma State, Texas, Missouri, Illinois and Louisville. He has already visited OSU and Texas. He was committed to Louisville under Rick Pitino and that's really the interesting one with Chris Mack taking over. Could the Cardinals convince him to come back? If they get a visit, we'd be very wary of Louisville.
Illinois has a point guard (Andres Feliz) coming in this weekend. If he commits, that would seem to take the Illini out of the Ramey race. We've been told that Missouri is trying to set up an official visit with Ramey (potentially next weekend), but so far as we know, no visits have been scheduled at this point in time. He wouldn't have to take an OV to Missouri to end up here. But he's got three left. We'll see which schools get them.
Hinson is on an official visit to Ole Miss this weekend. This is actually probably a positive sign for Missouri. He named a top three of Illinois, Seton Hall and Washington State about a month ago. But if he's taking other visits, he's open to other programs. Would indicate Mizzou has a chance to get him on a visit soon.
Let's call an ideal 2018 class: Courtney Ramey, Blake Hinson and a graduate transfer from somewhere (whichever one Missouri deems the best fit).
Speaking of Sunrise, we're told Missouri is really recruiting Malik Hall hard for 2019. We'd put him in the top tier of 2019 hopefuls at this point. Purdue will be watching him this weekend. The Boilermakers are popping up on the list for a lot of guys Mizzou is targeting. Speaking of which...
Okoro did an interview earlier this week where he mentioned Mizzou as a school he was likely to visit. He's at Oregon this weekend. Purdue and Illinois are big factors here as well. Put him on the high priority 2019 list too.
No new info on Liddell, but while we're talking about high priorities for 2019, he is the highest. This is a kid who you could see with offers from everyone (we're talking Duke, Carolina, Kentucky level) by mid-summer. Missouri's going to be in this one to the very end...but it's going to be a battle for whoever gets him.
