Cuonzo Martin isn’t the only basketball coach making headlines with his spring signing class. Women’s coach Robin Pingeton has also been making the rounds with a couple big time additions to her retooling program.
The post-Sophie Cunningham-era has begun with an elite recruiting class signed in the fall, but the impact will also be felt with the two most recent commitments.
Former South Carolina Gamecocks forward LaDazhia Williams, a former top 50 recruit from Florida, committed to Mizzou via her instagram account today.
Williams had a tough time cracking the deep lineup in the other Columbia, but she fills a position of need for the Tigers and should be ready to go after sitting out a season due to the NCAA transfer rules. From the News&Observer.com:
Williams is the second former USC player to transfer to Mizzou in the last three years — guard Haley Troup did so in 2017 as a freshman before playing a game at South Carolina. Williams played limited minutes in her time at Carolina, averaging 6.2 per game in 48 appearances. She also averaged 1.3 points and 1.7 rebounds per contest.
On and off the court, South Carolina and Missouri have developed an intense rivalry over the past few seasons, though coaches Dawn Staley and Robin Pingeton took extra steps to avoid any controversy this past year by having their players meet at center court in a circle during the national anthem prior to their last meeting.
The rivalry builds.
Also, MUTIgers.com made it offiicial with the signing of St. Louis native Shug Dickson. DIckson, whose real first name is Renetha, played at Tulsa her first two years of college and was their leading scorer last year before transferring to Texas Tech last year. Out of high school Dickson played at Lutheran North in North St. Louis County.
Lou to the ZOU pic.twitter.com/I2Z9zUl0nm
— SHUG ® (@shugdickson) May 14, 2019
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— Mizzou Basketball (@MizzouWBB) May 15, 2019
Join us in welcoming @shugdickson to the #Mizzou family! #MIZ #OurTownOurTeam pic.twitter.com/DFER5vun1h
With these two additions, plus the three from the fall period, that leaves five newcomers for the Tigers with some key pieces coming back, and only Williams having to sit out. And who knows maybe she gets a waiver to play right away. Adding to the interior depth for next year would be a good thing.
UPDATE: Williams has officially signed.
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— Mizzou Basketball (@MizzouWBB) May 15, 2019
Another one! Welcome to the #Mizzou family, @LDazhia! #MIZ #OurTownOurTeam pic.twitter.com/aZ8o34Kuny