2023 and... ugh... 2024 offers and interest for Mizzou Basketball

We really don’t talk a lot about recruiting anymore, and a big reason for that is because Cuonzo Martin’s recruiting is done very much on the down-low. Martin and his staff operate in the shadows more than nearly any other college basketball program. So it’s really difficult to talk openly about recruiting when you really only know about ¹⁄₃ of the story.

But let’s try!

2022 is going to be the main focus right now as a lot of players are setting up visits and Missouri has scheduled two official visits (that we know about) already: Aidan Shaw and Mark Mitchell.

Both Shaw and Mitchell have been at the top of the list for a while, and so it makes sense to show them where they are on the board by getting them both on campus quickly.

Mitchell is a 5-star combo forward from Bishop Miege in Shawnee, Kansas who is transferring to Sunrise Christian in Wichita to finish his high school career. He has Missouri in his top four with Oklahoma State, UCLA and... ahem... Duke. Kansas is lurking also, but Mitchell has scheduled visits to the first four, and will be in Columbia this upcoming weekend (June 12th). Common knowledge seems to project UCLA and Duke as the favorites, but as it is with any kid Cuonzo Martin is recruiting... we’ll see.

Shaw might be even higher on the need list because he’s a lot less likely to be a one-and-done, and he also fills a position of need. The wing / combo forward will be visiting Missouri the following weekend on June 19th. The other contenders appear to be Kansas, Maryland, and Oklahoma State. Shaw also seems a little more likely than Mitchell... but as it is with any kid Cuonzo Martin is recruiting... we’ll see.

As of last night, I’m not aware of any other official visits scheduled. Missouri doesn’t have a lot of planned open scholarships after next year so it would make sense to keep the class on the smaller side.

OMG It’s time for 2023!

No, really. When you look at the year 2023, it doesn’t seem like something that could be real. But here we are, talking about high school basketball players who will be landing on college campuses in that year.

The 2023 board is still pretty limited. Mizzou has sent out some offers in the class, but they’ve been fleeting and none have really stood out as guys who seem likely or even possible to land at Mizzou. Wisconsin post Gus Yelden nabbed an offer, and so did Louisville post Cyr Malonga. There have probably been a few more I’m forgetting, but with COVID impacting coaches’ abilities to watch players live it certainly feels like we’re trending towards some more offers being sent out. So who might be on the list? Why, kids looking at making unofficial visits, of course!

Watch out for Macaleab Rich

If you like to watch really athletic dunking, Rich is someone you might want to watch the highlights videos of. Here’s a link to his Hudl, and it’s worth watching. I’m not sure where his skill level is because these aren’t really cut to give you a clear view on his overall ability, but he’s certainly athletic enough. Rich is listed at 6’6 wing from Cuonzo Martin’s hometown of East St. Louis, so he’s certainly one to keep an eye on.

Jalen Hooks is certainly an intriguing prospect who already has all kinds of interest. He’s a 6’5 combo forward who’s long and lean and he’s visiting Missouri!

Braylen Blue is a nice looking player from Wisconsin; he’s a bigger combo guard and currently listed at 6’3 or 6’4. Blue is the cousin of former Marquette baller Vander Blue, and looks like a very skilled player with a nice jump shot. There’s a lot to like, and Blue and his father came away impressed from their early June visit:

Pretty cool words.

I very much expect the 2023 board to expand over the next few months as coaches are able to get on the road and actually watch live games. In the meantime...

Mizzou isn’t wasting time getting in on the 2024 class!

My reaction to John Bol the recruit is not the same as my reaction to the fact we’re offering 2024 players. Bol is 7’2 and plays for the Brad Beal Elite 15U team and is just BOOMING with potential. But 2024?

You’ll forgive me if I try not to think about it too much.