2014 Mizzou basketball recruiting: Chris Sandifer commits to Tigers

Post-Dispatch: Haith gets pledge from 2014 guard
PowerMizzou: Chris Sandifer Selects Mizzou
PowerMizzou: Family ties help Sandifer decide
PowerMizzou: Eric Bossi on Chris Sandifer
The Trib: 2014 recruit Sandifer commits to Missouri
KC Star: Tigers land small forward from California for 2014

With the transfer of Deuce Bello to Mizzou, Frank Haith's Tigers have three scholarships available for the 2014 recruiting class. The first was handed out on Friday, when four-star guard Chris Sandifer committed.

A 6'6 scorer from Los Angeles' Junipero Serra high school (with family in St. Louis), Sandifer is Rivals.com's No. 88 prospect in the country. He has ties to Jabari Brown's AAU program as well. From Rivals.com's Eric Bossi above:

"Currently ranked as the No. 88 player in the 2014 Rivals150, Sandifer is a swingman with good size and good athleticism. Sandifer is a streak scorer who tends to live and die a bit by his jump shot. When he's got it rolling, he puts up a lot of points in a hurry but when he's not on he can start forcing things and hurt his team at times. He has a live body and can finish at the rim and if he worked on his ball handling and added more driving to his game then his stock could go up even more."

From Sandifer's ESPN Insider scouting report:

Strengths:
Sandifer has grown into a solid looking 3-man for the next level. The left-hander is an ambidextrous scorer who has a knack of getting buckets and in a variety of ways. His 1st step is solid going to the rim and he can finish with a floater/runner with either hand. He can stroke the 3-point shot with regularity despite having a low release and he can be a gifted passer at times as well.

Weaknesses:
His ball skills and effort (at times) need to improve, but he's still very young. He has the ability to knock down the 3-point jump shot with regularity, but his release is very low-causing his shot to be flat at times and at the next level, more block able. In addition, he needs to develop more savvy for the game in terms of shot selection and playing more on balance (jump stop).

As it currently stands, here's the by-class breakdown of what would be Missouri's 2014-15 team (without defections, and there are almost always defections):

• Seniors: Jabari Brown (SG), Jordan Clarkson (PG/SG), Keanau Post (C)
• Juniors: Deuce Bello (SG), Ryan Rosburg (PF/C), Stefan Jankovic (PF)
• Sophomores: Wes Clark (PG), Shane Rector (PG), Johnathan Williams III (SF/PF), Torren Jones (PF)
• Freshmen: Chris Sandifer (SG/SF)

This is nearly perfect class distribution ... to the point where, just for symmetry's sake, I kind of hope Louisville's Zach Price doesn't come to Mizzou. (But that's not a real concern.)