We are proud to welcome Billiards on Broadway back for another year as our partner and the presenting sponsor of the juiciest dish on PowerMizzou. If you're looking for the inside scoop on Mizzou recruiting, The Chamber is the place. If you're looking for the best burger in Columbia, Billiards on Broadway is your go-to. A great place to watch a game, play some pool and pair a great local beer selection with one of Columbia's best meals. Local sports, Local beer, Local food--all under one roof at Billiards!
BASKETBALL RECRUITING
Like last week, we'll start with a quick hitter on the hoops side. The 2023 class at this point seems likely to focus on transfers in the spring with however many spots are open (as always, the answer to that question is how many do they need?) So as far as high school kids, the focus is 2024. We fully expect Missouri to be in on some big fish in this class. It's tough to project how many spots there are this far in advance, but 3-4 is usually a pretty good baseline. At some point soon we'll do a full hot board, but here are the guys we believe to be priorities:
Marcus Allen
Annor Boateng
James Brown
Naasir Cunningham
Carter Bryant
Dallas Thomas
John Bol
T.O. Barrett
Qin Pang
Jordan McCullum
All except Bryant have been on campus for an official visit, unofficial visit or both. Bryant is the nephew of former Tiger Travon Bryant, with whom Gates has a relationship dating back more than 20 years to when Gates hosted Travon on his visit to Cal. Obviously things are going to change over time and the board will shift, but these are the players we believe have the most mutual interest in the 2024 class at this time. None of them can sign anything for 11 more months so there's plenty to happen.
FOOTBALL RECRUITING
So up front, we'll tell you that the visit list is not as heavy on transfers as we expected. At least that we know of. It has to be said that this list is the best we've been able to assemble, but that does not mean it is comprehensive. There could very well be some visitors that we just don't know about. If there are, there's a chance that news will come out over the weekend, although with no home basketball game, it's going to be a little less likely than if the players were at a basketball game and a bunch of people see them.
Missouri is expected to host a handful of commitments, a couple of high school targets, a couple of transfer targets, and a mystery visitor or two. Don't worry, we've hired Scooby Doo and crew to solve the mystery and hope to have answers at some point this weekend. If you see the Mystery Machine around town, give them some delicious food and beverages from Billards on Broadway and tell them the PowerMizzou faithful appreciate their services.
Now, let's get started...you meddling subs
Commits:
Brett Norfleet
Jahkai Lang
Blake Craig
Daniel Blood
Phillip Roche
Uncommitted Target:
CJ Johnson, S, Paetow (Tex.) - We've known about the visit for a couple of weeks now. However, Johnson is planning to sign in February for now. Missouri will get a chance to make an impression this weekend, but Johnson is also planning to visit Auburn and Nebraska in January. Of note, he is cousins with Texas A&M running back LJ Johnson, who is currently in the portal.
Jordon Harris, TE/DL, Pine Bluff (Ark.) - Harris visited Missouri back in October for the Vanderbilt game, where he picked up an offer from the staff. Back then, the Tigers liked him as a TE prospect but with the recent in-home visit from defensive line coach Al Davis, there could be some interest in the 6-foot-7, 230-pound prospect at defensive end. Regardless, Harris took an official to Vanderbilt last weekend, where the Commodores like him at TE.
Transfers:
John Morgan, DE, Pitt - Started his visit on Thursday. Just entered the transfer portal earlier this week and along with Missouri has picked up other notable offers from Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas, Indiana, Colorado, and others. Finished his career at Pitt with 76 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles.
Joe Moore, DL, Arizona State - Moore redshirted in 2020, but tallied 30 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks during his career with the Sun Devils. Like Morgan, Moore's visit was set to begin on Thursday as the Tigers are contending with Washington, Illinois, and Houston to land the St. Louis native. There has not been confirmation that Moore is in town, but we had gotten a heads up earlier in the week that was the plan.
OTHER UPDATES FROM THIS WEEK
Jeremiah McClellan
Ryan Wingo
Brayshawn Littlejohn
Daniel Kaelin
ROSTER QUICK HITS
Just a few notes on players we expect to return (or have publicly said they will) and to leave:
Luke Griffin - We have been told to expect him to be in the portal after the bowl game
Javon Foster - Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy indicated on Twitter Foster was returning to school
Harrison Mevis - No public announcement, but we've been told he's coming back
Kris Abrams-Draine - Has publicly said he's returning
Jayden Jernigan - Publicly said he's returning
Ennis Rakestraw - No public announcement, but we expect him back
Jaylon Carlies - Not sure at this point. Early on we thought he was coming back, we're less sure now
Ty'Ron Hopper - Have heard both that he's leaning toward staying and leaning toward going. Our impression is it could come down to NIL funds
Darius Robinson - Don't know
Trajan Jeffcoat - Don't know
Chad Bailey - Has said he's coming back
Martez Manuel - Leaving, not playing in bowl game
Isaiah McGuire - Leaving, not playing in bowl game
That's all we know right now, other than the players who are already in the transfer portal. We should have an opportunity to see a little bit of practice at some point this weekend and that might give us a little better idea what's going on. If we have not listed a player here, we don't have any information and it won't do you any good to ask.
