FOOTBALL RECRUITING
***Tight end target Micah Riley-Ducker has set up his fifth official visit earlier this week and it will be to Wisconsin from June 17th-20th. His other four officials in June include Tennessee (June 21-23), Iowa (June 25-27), Auburn (June 11-13), and Iowa State (June 4-6). While the four-star prospect has visited Missouri twice in the past two months, his last being one of Mizzou's open spring practices, it probably doesn't bode well that the Tigers won't get an official. We would file this one under "on the outside looking in."
***Staying with the tight end theme, Eli Raridon has four official visits set for June that will go to Iowa State, Iowa, Tennessee, and Notre Dame. As we mentioned previously, the three-star prospect has family ties to Notre Dame. His grandfather was the strength and conditioning coach under Lou Holtz and his father played offensive line for the Fighting Irish back in the early 2000's. Raridon did visit Missouri recently for an open spring practice, but it's yet to be determined if the Tigers will get the final official from the Iowa native.
***Right now, we'd consider both Raridon and Riley-Ducker as long shots for Missouri, which should put more emphasis on Festus (Mo.) product and current Baylor commit Kaian Roberts-Day The three-star prospect plays multiple position for his high school, but the Tigers see him as a hybrid tight end. We think the coaching staff will really ramp up their efforts with Roberts-Day if they miss on Raridon and Riley-Ducker.
***Another major target we expect to take an official visit to Missouri this summer is four-star offensive lineman DeShawn Woods. The Nebraska native recently told ASUDevils.com that he now has a top three that includes Arizona State, Tennessee, and Missouri and plans to visit all three this summer before making a decision in July. The thing to watch out for here is his Woods' relationship with fellow Omaha four-star prospect Devon Jackson. They are best friends and among the top schools they have in common are Arizona State and Tennessee. While Woods said they don't necessarily have to go to the same college, but it would be great if they could.
***We'll have a more detailed story with Jeff Davis (Ga.) edge rusher Miyon Conaway earlier this week. Missouri is communicating a lot with the three-star prospect and they see him as either a defensive end or linebacker. Conaway has done a virtual visit with Missouri and is really impressed with the program and said he plans to take an official visit to Columbia this summer. He's been talking with assistants Jethro Franlkin, DJ Smith, and Charlie Harbison the most on the staff.
***We started out the week talking a lot about running back targets - CJ Stokes setting a Mizzou official and Emeka Megwa has the Tigers in his Top 5. Sticking with the running back target theme, we're hearing some buzz surrounding Pulaski County (Ark.) product Joseph Himon and that he may be close to joining the Tigers' 2022 recruiting class. So, that's something we'll continue to monitor and update moving forward. If Himon does give his pledge to Missouri, we think it's likely the coaching staff will take another running back in the class as well.
***GOING DOWN TO BIG D - In this instance, we do mean Dallas. Sean Williams will be in the Lone Star State this weekend for the first Rivals Camp stop of the season in Dallas on Sunday. We expect a handful of Missouri targets to be in attendance, guys like Chris McClellan, Jadon Scarlett, Terrance Brooks, Dylahn McKinney, DeColdest Crawford, and others are on the participation list. We'll have updates throughout the weekend and stories to follow next week.
BASKETBALL RECRUITING
Things have slowed down a little bit. We're pretty confident the transfers out are over. It's been almost a week since Mizzou has added a transfer. Here's a quick reset on the roster (some of these positions are flexible, just taking a shot):
PG: Boogie Coleman, Anton Brookshire, Kaleb Brown
SG: DaJuan Gordon, Amari Davis
SF: Javon Pickett, Sean Durugordon
PF: Kobe Brown, Trevon Brazile
C: Jordan Wilmore, Yaya Keita
Missouri is chasing Tamar Bates (along with much of the country). We talked to him earlier this week. He gave away little. All we can really say right now is that we think Missouri is in the mix, but we don't know where at this time. The Tigers also contacted Texas recommit David Joplin, but we think Bates is the only high school guy they really want. If you can get Bates and Joplin, you consider it, but that's seven freshmen and it makes the roster tougher to balance in the next two or three years.
Missouri also needs a transfer in the front court. There are names out there, some of whom Missouri's been tied to, but none that really stick out as guys we've heard it could happen at any time. The one that probably makes the most sense right now, if they can get him, is Daniel Oladapo from Oakland. We discussed him in this thread. He brings everything you're looking for. A guy who can score, but more important can rebound and defend in the front court. When we say they're looking for someone that can play in the paint, it doesn't have to be a 6-11, 250-pound, back to the basket center. It could be, but doesn't need to be by any means. You just need another guy who can go down low and battle on both ends of the floor because Brazile is 6-7, 180, Keita is a freshman coming off a knee injury and Wilmore is still an unknown. You need someone proven or Missouri is going to get beat up inside a lot next year.
The forward is a necessity. It has to happen. Bates is a luxury. Yes, you'd love him, but if you can only get one of those two things, you've got to get the forward for next year. We'll keep you posted on anything that's happening as far as developments on that front.
One other note: We talked to 2022 4-star Seth Trimble and you can read what he had to say about Mizzou and everyone else in this morning's story.
***Tight end target Micah Riley-Ducker has set up his fifth official visit earlier this week and it will be to Wisconsin from June 17th-20th. His other four officials in June include Tennessee (June 21-23), Iowa (June 25-27), Auburn (June 11-13), and Iowa State (June 4-6). While the four-star prospect has visited Missouri twice in the past two months, his last being one of Mizzou's open spring practices, it probably doesn't bode well that the Tigers won't get an official. We would file this one under "on the outside looking in."
***Staying with the tight end theme, Eli Raridon has four official visits set for June that will go to Iowa State, Iowa, Tennessee, and Notre Dame. As we mentioned previously, the three-star prospect has family ties to Notre Dame. His grandfather was the strength and conditioning coach under Lou Holtz and his father played offensive line for the Fighting Irish back in the early 2000's. Raridon did visit Missouri recently for an open spring practice, but it's yet to be determined if the Tigers will get the final official from the Iowa native.
***Right now, we'd consider both Raridon and Riley-Ducker as long shots for Missouri, which should put more emphasis on Festus (Mo.) product and current Baylor commit Kaian Roberts-Day The three-star prospect plays multiple position for his high school, but the Tigers see him as a hybrid tight end. We think the coaching staff will really ramp up their efforts with Roberts-Day if they miss on Raridon and Riley-Ducker.
***Another major target we expect to take an official visit to Missouri this summer is four-star offensive lineman DeShawn Woods. The Nebraska native recently told ASUDevils.com that he now has a top three that includes Arizona State, Tennessee, and Missouri and plans to visit all three this summer before making a decision in July. The thing to watch out for here is his Woods' relationship with fellow Omaha four-star prospect Devon Jackson. They are best friends and among the top schools they have in common are Arizona State and Tennessee. While Woods said they don't necessarily have to go to the same college, but it would be great if they could.
***We'll have a more detailed story with Jeff Davis (Ga.) edge rusher Miyon Conaway earlier this week. Missouri is communicating a lot with the three-star prospect and they see him as either a defensive end or linebacker. Conaway has done a virtual visit with Missouri and is really impressed with the program and said he plans to take an official visit to Columbia this summer. He's been talking with assistants Jethro Franlkin, DJ Smith, and Charlie Harbison the most on the staff.
***We started out the week talking a lot about running back targets - CJ Stokes setting a Mizzou official and Emeka Megwa has the Tigers in his Top 5. Sticking with the running back target theme, we're hearing some buzz surrounding Pulaski County (Ark.) product Joseph Himon and that he may be close to joining the Tigers' 2022 recruiting class. So, that's something we'll continue to monitor and update moving forward. If Himon does give his pledge to Missouri, we think it's likely the coaching staff will take another running back in the class as well.
***GOING DOWN TO BIG D - In this instance, we do mean Dallas. Sean Williams will be in the Lone Star State this weekend for the first Rivals Camp stop of the season in Dallas on Sunday. We expect a handful of Missouri targets to be in attendance, guys like Chris McClellan, Jadon Scarlett, Terrance Brooks, Dylahn McKinney, DeColdest Crawford, and others are on the participation list. We'll have updates throughout the weekend and stories to follow next week.
BASKETBALL RECRUITING
Things have slowed down a little bit. We're pretty confident the transfers out are over. It's been almost a week since Mizzou has added a transfer. Here's a quick reset on the roster (some of these positions are flexible, just taking a shot):
PG: Boogie Coleman, Anton Brookshire, Kaleb Brown
SG: DaJuan Gordon, Amari Davis
SF: Javon Pickett, Sean Durugordon
PF: Kobe Brown, Trevon Brazile
C: Jordan Wilmore, Yaya Keita
Missouri is chasing Tamar Bates (along with much of the country). We talked to him earlier this week. He gave away little. All we can really say right now is that we think Missouri is in the mix, but we don't know where at this time. The Tigers also contacted Texas recommit David Joplin, but we think Bates is the only high school guy they really want. If you can get Bates and Joplin, you consider it, but that's seven freshmen and it makes the roster tougher to balance in the next two or three years.
Missouri also needs a transfer in the front court. There are names out there, some of whom Missouri's been tied to, but none that really stick out as guys we've heard it could happen at any time. The one that probably makes the most sense right now, if they can get him, is Daniel Oladapo from Oakland. We discussed him in this thread. He brings everything you're looking for. A guy who can score, but more important can rebound and defend in the front court. When we say they're looking for someone that can play in the paint, it doesn't have to be a 6-11, 250-pound, back to the basket center. It could be, but doesn't need to be by any means. You just need another guy who can go down low and battle on both ends of the floor because Brazile is 6-7, 180, Keita is a freshman coming off a knee injury and Wilmore is still an unknown. You need someone proven or Missouri is going to get beat up inside a lot next year.
The forward is a necessity. It has to happen. Bates is a luxury. Yes, you'd love him, but if you can only get one of those two things, you've got to get the forward for next year. We'll keep you posted on anything that's happening as far as developments on that front.
One other note: We talked to 2022 4-star Seth Trimble and you can read what he had to say about Mizzou and everyone else in this morning's story.
