Mizzou Links: Recruiting season, Markus Golden, frustrating basketball losses
Sandwiched between highlights of Jeremy Maclin, Marcus Murphy and Jabari Brown, Mizzou landed 3 mid-level recruits, as they are wont to do, Markus Golden believes he's a 1st round talent even if he's not a 1st round selection, and Mizzou hoops still lost a disappointing game Saturday.
The three pledges give Mizzou 18 verbal commitments, though East St. Louis running back Natereace Strong has already enrolled at Hinds, Miss., Community College and hopes to be academically eligible to enroll at Mizzou in 2016, East St. Louis coach Darren Sunkett told CBS 920 AM last week. Recruits can sign national letters of intent on Feb. 4.
Two summers ago, Agbasimere participated in a basketball camp put on by the Ejike Ugboaja Foundation. Ejuke Ugboaja was a former Nigerian-born basketball player who was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2006.
"I know it’s a process," Golden said. "There’s a long time from now to the draft, where I can prove myself. Of course, I feel like I’m a first-round draft pick. I’ve worked hard enough, and I feel like my skills have me being a first-round draft pick.
Is this an exhaustive list? I don't know. But there are seven names. I passed on every one I've heard. I can't really handicap it at this point, though there seem to be some more obvious connections with some than others. There could be some other names out there I haven't heard yet obviously. But I wouldn't be at all surprised if the eventual hire came from this group. Again, it may be just a little while (and before you think that would damage Missouri's recruiting, a linebacker/secondary coach isn't going to come in here and make a huge difference in the last ten days before signing day so it's not a hindrance to wait).
In a losing season, several definitions of defeat are required to differentiate the disappointment. For the Missouri basketball team, there were the inexplicable (UMKC), the lopsided (Arizona, Purdue, Oklahoma, Kentucky), the encouraging (Illinois, Oklahoma State) and the understandable (Xavier, Auburn). And then there was Saturday’s 59-51 loss to Tennessee at Mizzou Arena, a defeat that seemed to sting Coach Kim Anderson the worst. "I’m not sure what positive I would take out of this," Anderson said glumly.
After the game, Missouri coach Kim Anderson seemed flustered and frustrated, pausing for several long seconds to gather his thoughts before speaking. "I’m not sure what positive I would take out of this," Anderson said.
If Isabell had practiced harder recently, he would've been able to remove his warmup shirt and potentially help his teammates score more than 24 first-half points. Instead, Anderson waited until 26 minutes of game time to put Isabell in the game. Isabell quickly gave Missouri eight points.
The Missouri women’s basketball team endured a long offensive slump in the first half, digging a hole it couldn’t climb out of in a 73-55 Southeastern Conference loss to Arkansas on Sunday afternoon in Fayetteville, Ark.
Former Huntington Prep coach Rob Fulford is an assistant at Missouri, but Bryant isn’t going to let that relationship affect his college decision. "It’s a little bit of a factor, but I try not to let relationships come between me and my decision," he said. "This is about me, and not anyone else. It’s for my future."
Top-50 prospect Ted Kapita says his top three are Arkansas, Memphis and Missouri. No timetable on decision. Hasn't played all season (hip).
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Mizzou Recruits