Welcome (Officially), Ronnie DeGray III
Or Ronnie Three-Sticks. Or RG3. We here at Rock M like both of these nicknames, so we’ll allow either of them going forward.
Ronnie made it official on Thursday afternoon, and joins the four-man transfer class — and five man freshman class — for the 21-22 season. While at UMASS, he started 14 of 15 games as a freshman in their COVID-shortened season, and averaged 27.4 minutes per game. The 6-foot-7 forward averaged 8.7 points and 4.6 rebounds while shooting 54.3 percent from the field and 37 percent from beyond the arc. Prior to entering the portal, RG3 was likely set to be UMass’ leading returning rebounder in 2021-22 prior to entering the transfer portal.
From the press release (linked above) :
“Ronnie is a gifted combo forward who can really impact the game in a lot of ways,” Martin said. “He’s an efficient scorer, a skilled passer as a forward and he brings versatility and toughness on defense. We’re excited to add him to the family.”
Signed ✔️
— Mizzou Hoops (@MizzouHoops) May 6, 2021
Welcome @Ronnie_DeGray23 to the #Mizzou Hoops Family!#ToTheFinishLine pic.twitter.com/jHMeS4ERFa
Fox2 in St. Louis was eager to catch up with the new Tiger, and posted video of a Zoom call they conducted with him, where he talked about how the Tigers recruited him out of high school but ultimately went the direction of an interior player that year. The feeling of knowing the staff already — he referenced his relationships with Coach Corn and Coach Martin — help affirm that choosing Mizzou is a great decision. It’s a great listen; you should check it out for sure.
Asked why he chose Mizzou, he said in the school’s press release:
“I chose Mizzou because the staff showed me how much of a family this program is and how everyone is bought in,” DeGray III said. “I have a chance to play on the biggest stage and be a part of a really good team. I believe Coach Martin will push me and help me get to where I want to be, and teach me life lessons and how to become a man.”
On to the Links! Welcome to the Zou, Ronnie Three-Sticks!
Yesterday at Rock M
- In Podcast Producer Levi’s Rock M debut (still miss Mitch), he recapped the new Dive Cuts pod, who had a special guest— The Athletic’s CJ Moore.
- Aaron is looking forward to the return of D Line Zou, because it’s Trajan Time!!
More Links:
Football
- Mizzou Football has finalized seven future contests, some of which are wayyyyyyyyyyy far out in the future, according to Eric Blum of the Tribune.
ICYMI | ️ ️✈️
— Mizzou Football (@MizzouFootball) May 7, 2021
https://t.co/q4Ok517rf1#MIZ x #NewZou pic.twitter.com/BO59tNm5sw
Hoops
- Mizzou Hoops’ roster looks very different than it did three weeks ago. It’s time to check out the new roster, and the Tribune’s Eric Blum has a short analysis on each one.
- The Mizzou Arena locker rooms are getting a facelift, and wow, they are going to look good. Check it out!
#Mizzou Arena Locker room renovations have already begun!
— Mizzou Basketball (@MizzouWBB) May 6, 2021
Thank you to our great donors and supporters for making this possible! #OurTownOurTeam pic.twitter.com/73m68wfRHp
Other Mizzou Sports
- Dave Matter held his weekly chat, answering questions about many topics. Check it out.
- No. 15/16 Softball faces No. 17 Tennessee this weekend, and after the Vols’ two midweek losses to Mississippi State, the Tigers only need to win one of the games of the series to secure their double-bye No. 4 seed in the SEC Tournament. Those wanting to check out a preview can read the series primer at MUTigers.com or Ben Miglore of the Missourian’s preview.
All gas, no brakes ⛽️#NCAASoftball x @MizzouSoftball pic.twitter.com/QKPwRATVrs
— NCAA Softball (@NCAAsoftball) May 5, 2021
- Baseball is hoping to play its way back into the SEC Tournament with a good performance against No. 5 Tennessee. Kortay will have a preview up some time this morning, but in the meantime, you can check out the primer from MUTigers.com or Reid Glenn’s preview for the Missourian.
- In excellent news for coach Andrew Grevers and Mizzou Swimming, All-American Sarah Thompson has decided to utilize the extra year of eligibility and stick around Mizzou next season. Wooooooo! More info at MUTigers.com
' ❗#Mizzou All-American Sarah Thompson will return for a fifth year in 2021-22 #MIZ pic.twitter.com/HJLRri7Equ
— Mizzou Swim & Dive (@MizzouSwimDive) May 6, 2021
- Mizzou Athletics is honoring all their spring and summer grads in this twitter thread. Congrats to some incredible student athletes! Be sure to click through the thread to see them all!
This week we are honoring those who received their Spring and Summer 2021 #MizzouMade Student-Athlete Grad Sash! pic.twitter.com/1W9tsFVUgY
— MizzouMade (@MizzouMade) May 5, 2021
Mizzou in the Pros
- Michael Porter, Jr. played 25 minutes in the Nuggets’ 113-97 win over the red hot Knicks scoring 17 points on 7-12 shooting (3-6 from behind the arc) with 6 rebounds and 3 assists. New Nugget Austin Rivers was asked in last night’s postgame about his impressions of Mike before arriving in Denver, compared to what he thinks of him of now. Worth a listen, for sure.
@AustinRivers25 real my guy https://t.co/PNbm3uToM7
— Nolan Smith (@NdotSmitty) May 5, 2021
- Jontay Porter did not play in the Grizzlies’ 111-97 loss to the Pistons on Thursday night. He’s had a string of DNPs recently, which I hope does not become a common occurrence.
- Get it, JC!! He was [insert expletive] phenomenal in the Jazz’s win over the Spurs on Wednesday night.
30 points in just 25 minutes off the bench #PerformanceLeader | @UofUHealth pic.twitter.com/bOiAeyA7IH
— utahjazz (@utahjazz) May 6, 2021
Light work for Six ☮️#TakeNote | @jordanclarksons pic.twitter.com/Yw4UcNfRg7
— utahjazz (@utahjazz) May 6, 2021
- In light of the Olympic Trials fiasco, J’den Cox has learned a lot, saying “it’s never been more clear what my path is.” His path, according to Eric Blum’s article in the Tribune, based on his chat on a Mizzou Athletics podcast, is to take everyone down. He will first wrestle at 92kg at the World Championships in October, and then work his way up to 97kg so he can take down Kyle Snyder once and for all.
On what he told the national team coach:
“I think I told this to (USA national men’s freestyle wrestling coach) Bill Zadick when he called me, just like a week ago, I told him. ... ’I’m here to destroy people’s lives now. That’s what I’m here to do. I’m here to take people out. I’m here to tear up the world,’” Cox said. “It’s not out of spite, it’s not out of vengeance. It’s just what will be. It’s to prove to everyone what I’ve known and to prove and show what’s been shown in the last two years, that I’m the best wrestler in the world. And I truly believe that and I’m going to do even more to showcase it.”
Damn. Best of luck, J’den. We are all behind you.
- Welcome back to Tampa, Blaine Gabbert!
Bucs are re-signing QB Blaine Gabbert to a one-year, $2.5-million deal, per source. Top backup to Brady back in fold for Super Bowl champs.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) May 5, 2021
NIL News
- Georgia’s governor, Brian Kemp, announced the signing of a bill to allow Georgia athletes to sign endorsement deals in the name, image and likeness debate. This, on the surface, is great news, until you read that it also allows schools, if so inclined, to take a whopping SEVENTY-FIVE PERCENT of their earnings and put it into a pile for redistribution. If you really think about who this impacts, it’s pretty disgusting. DO BETTER, GEORGIA.
- According to Fox2 News out of St. Louis, Missouri passed their own NIL bill through the House with overwhelming bipartisan support.
Rep. Travis Fitzwater (R-Holts Summit) said allowing students to get paid would encourage entrepreneurship in the state.
“To earn from that, from their own brands, from their own name, image and likeness,” Fitzwater said. “We allow this for everybody else besides athletes. Risking their bodies for their sports, they should be able to take the risk of building a business without the state getting involved in that and getting in the way of them earning for what they are doing.”
In response to the legislation, Mizzou Athletics released the following response:
In regards to the name, image and likeness issue, nationally and within our state, the University of Missouri continuously pursues every opportunity to positively enhance the experience for its 550 student-athletes. Doing so within a regulatory framework that emphasizes the unique principles of amateur athletics and creates a level playing field for all institutions is paramount to any analysis of future opportunities. We will continue to monitor all developments in this area and look forward to working together with all stakeholders toward a mutually beneficial and cohesive result.
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