Off-Season Roster Movement Headquarters

Jun 6, 2023 - 3:51 AM

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After an initial campaign that can only be described as a success, the off-season has arrived for hoops in Columbia. Last spring saw a flurry of activity with a large number of departures and incoming players via the transfer portal. What has become a rite of spring, we’re back again. Although the roster churn should be lower this year, there’s still significant importance to how rosters can be improved in short order. The following is a comprehensive look at what Mizzou could bring back. We’ll be updating this story as more information is learned.

Roster Math

We’re still waiting on a final word from Isiaih Mosley, but it does sound like we are expecting Noah Carter and Nick Honor back. Sean East II went through Senior Day activities as well but is expected back. It’s since been confirmed by the athletic department that the previously enacted team scholarship extension for non-transfer, covid “free year,” eligible players is no longer in effect. However, there are other ways in which “scholarship level,” players could theoretically be carried off scholarship.

Player Roles

We’ve organized the roster and the potential additions by position. These positions are not a hard and fast rule, but rather our best estimate based on the team’s style of play in 2023 as well as historical data.

Point Guards

Departures

None.

Potential Returners and Newcomers

Nick Honor — Nick Honor delivered a 2023 season that we expected. A steadying presence on the ball and an accurate jump shot. Honor led the team in minutes played. Whether it was having a steadying influence on the ball, his performance as a savvy decision maker or his number of clutch shots, Honor proved his worth. We fully expect that he’ll return for his final season of eligibility.

Update: On April 29, Nick Honor announced that he will indeed return to Columbia for his last year of eligibility.

Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Sean East II— Sean East arrived to join his coach at John A. Logan, Kyle Smithpeters, in Columbia for Dennis Gates’s first year. While his performance could accurately be described as streaky, he provided a little bit of lightning to Honor’s thunder. East was effective in pushing the ball in transition and creating steals. His game was a little less jump-shooting and a little more creation off the bounce. We also expect East to return for his final season.

Anthony Robinson — From 24/7 Commitment story by Eric Bossi: “Pushing 6-foot-3, Robinson is a long and lean floor general with wiggle off the bounce and some creativity to his passing. They say the recruiting process comes down to relationships and Missouri assistant Charlton Young spent a lot of time building the foundation of a great one that Gates was able to capitalize on to land Robinson. ‘I bring energy and intensity and I just love to play defense. I like to play up and down, to have fun and just bring the want to win every game along with the energy and the intensity.’” Anthony Robinson is Missouri’s first in 2023 (247sports.com)

Combo Guards

Departures

Kaleb Brown — One of the few remaining holdovers from the Cuonzo Martin era, Kaleb saw infrequent playing time. When the calendar flipped to December, Kaleb appeared in only five more games for a total of 31 minutes. If playing time was a priority, a departure made sense.

Update: On April 21, Brown took that step by entering his name into the transfer portal.

Tre Gomillion — One of the best stories of Dennis Gates’ young tenure as a head coach also had one of the most unfortunate endings. Gomillion, sidelined for a groin injury for much of conference play reaggravated the strain and missed both tournament games. A “heart and soul,” guy was one of the team’s better defenders and rebounders despite his height. He was effective at carving out a role offensively. Unfortunately for everyone involved, we know exactly what Mizzou will miss on the court with his departure. A loss bigger than the box score.

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Potential Returners and Newcomers

John Tonje — A mere five days after entering the portal, John Tonje announced on March 27, 2023 that he had committed to Dennis Gates and the Mizzou Tigers. Tonje has moved around in roles for Colorado State, but his size and the offense role he filled would make him a versatile player at all three guard spots. A proven outside shooter and a player who has been used as a primary in a moderate amount of ball screens gives you plenty of options. He has also performed well on the glass. His role is yet to be determined, but he adds scoring punch on the perimeter. He will have one year to play.

Perimeter Volume Scorers

Departures

DeAndre Gholston — Perhaps the biggest surprise to this scribe, Gholston emerged not only as a viable top-of-the-rotation player, but also one who carried the highest usage rate on a regular basis. A lot of those touches may be a function of Mosley’s absence throughout the year, as they played a similar role, but Gholston performed admirably in that role ending with a positive offensive rating. That is no small feat for a high-volume player. His departure creates a need for more possessions to be shouldered by others.

Potential Returners and Newcomers

Isiaih Mosley — Isiaih Mosley arrived with much acclaim and high hopes that Mizzou had secured a bona fide high-volume, high-efficiency perimeter player. The homecoming proved to be less than that. The reasons aren’t important for this piece. We know that he’s a dynamic scoring weapon. We also know for that to matter he’ll have to be available. His decision as to whether to return or depart will have a significant impact on the outlook of the 23-24 team.

Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Playmaking Wings

Departures

None

Potential Returners and Newcomers

None

Three and D(efense) Wings

Departures

D’Moi Hodge — One of Dennis Gates’s Cleveland State transfers, D’Moi Hodge had nothing short of a dynamic senior campaign. His departure creates a massive chasm at a spot where Mizzou doesn’t have much-proven production. Whether it was flamethrowing from behind the arc, his hyper-efficient cutting off the ball, his dynamic transition abilities or his ability to create steals, Hodge proved to be one of the best in this role in the SEC.

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Potential Returners and Newcomers

Curt Lewis — From 247 Commitment piece by Brandon Jenkins: “A 6-foot-5 shooting guard from Louisville (Ky.) Lewis started out his collegiate career at Eastern Kentucky after completing a post-graduate season at Spire Academy. This season he attends John A. Logan College in Illinois and is averaging around 14 points, five rebounds, and three assists while shooting 49 percent from behind the arc. ‘Just being at the game and experiencing the atmosphere really drew my attention,’ Lewis said. ‘They play really fast with four guards on the floor and that showed me that I want to be a Tiger.’ ‘I want to bring a dog mentality to their team,’ Lewis said. ‘Being in the SEC, I know it is going to be a transition but I feel I have been a high major type of guy all along. It will not be too hard, so I am looking forward to bringing anything I need to in order to help my team win games.’” Junior college standout Curt Lewis discusses his Missouri commitment (247sports.com)

Tamar Bates — What’s old is new again. Tamar Bates was long ago a top target for Cuonzo Martin and his staff when the Kansas City, Kansas native was becoming a prep star. Bates ascended the recruiting rankings when he transferred for his senior year to IMG Academy. Missouri stayed on the fringes of his recruitment but he ultimately chose Shaka Smart and Texas before Smart took the job at Marquette. Bates reopened his recruitment and chose Mike Woodson and Indiana. There’s he’s been good and improved his shooting this past season, but was an afterthought offensively using only 15% of the possessions when on the floor. However, Mizzou is betting on untapped potential in Bates. A more up-tempo system that values spacing and guys who can shoot off the catch. Mizzou’s departure at this position is proof positive of what this role can bring out in a player.

Caleb Grill — Grill will be entering his super-senior year. The 6’3” off-ball guard played his first, third and fourth season in Ames, with his second coming at UNLV. Grill had joined forces with the future Cyclone head coach in Las Vegas before following his coach back to Iowa. Grill, like Bates, will look to bolster the lost outside shooting production of D’Moi Hodge. Known for exactly that — and playing with a bit of an edge — Grill shot 37% from outside in 2023 and owns a career 34% mark. The bulk of Grill’s makes come off the catch. However, an underrated aspect of his game will be the defensive ability he brings to a team sorely in need. Although the reasons for it seemingly have been cleared up during his recruitment by the Mizzou staff, it does bear mentioning that Grill was dismissed from the Cyclone program last spring. Most teammates who spoke up in the aftermath reiterated their support for their departed teammate.

Playmaking Forwards

Departures

Kobe Brown — When a first-team all-SEC player is a potential returner, it’s a massive story to watch. Kobe Brown continued his year-over-year improvement since arriving in Columbia. His latest accomplishment was completing his offensive game with a high-percentage outside shot that had eluded him in years 1 through 3. He’s an effective jump shooter, elite passer, a very good ballhandler and an exceptional rim finisher. All of this while standing at a very well-put-together 6’8”. If he returns, there will be legitimate discussion of preseason conference player of the year. The question is simply: will he?

Update 5/31: Regrettably, we inform you the answer is no. Kobe has confirmed his intent to remain in the NBA draft and not return to Mizzou.

Potential Returners and Newcomers

Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Noah Carter — Carter has an eerily similar game to Kobe Brown. While Carter is a few inches shorter, he possesses many of the same abilities. With Kobe’s departure, Carter will have to continue to show that he’s a very capable replacement. Should he return, they would provide the team with a dynamic duo of versatile forwards that few teams possess. We fully expect to see Noah in a Tigers uniform next fall.

Jesus Carralero — Perhaps the biggest surprise of the spring, Jesus Carralero committed to Mizzou on April 30, 2023. It only took one glance at his stat profile and film to see the fit, however. The native of Malaga, Spain, stands at 6-8” and boasts many of the attributes this coaching staff finds useful in a player with size, namely ball-handling and pass-making. Carralero spent one year of prep school at Link Year Prep in Branson, Missouri. He figures to add needed depth along the front line with Kobe Brown’s departure.

Stretch Fours

Departures

Ronnie DeGray III — DeGray very likely would’ve had a sizeable impact on this team but for two things: 1. He shared a similar position to Kobe Brown and Noah Carter, and 2. He was injured during the season. When DeGray did appear, he often made “winning plays.” Whether it be a timely rebound or a smart decision with the ball, DeGray had a knack for doing those things.

Status Update: On 3/30/23 Ronnie DeGray announced he would be transferring. He has since committed to Wichita State and former Mizzou assistant, Chris Hollender.

Potential Returners and Newcomers

Aidan Shaw — Shaw had what could be described as a very typical freshman campaign. There were games where he was a non-factor and there were outings when his presence was felt. His extreme athleticism, plus length and skill set allow for a lot of possibilities. Especially in a high tempo, high defensive pressure game that we expect Gates to play. While the polish isn’t there the tools certainly are. We believe he will return.

Trent Pierce — From 247 Biggest Risers in 2023 Class by Eric Bossi: Over the last month, Trent Pierce has been earning more playing time for a loaded AZ Compass Prep program and he’s been making the most of it. The Oklahoma native is a smooth shot maker with good size for a guy that can play as a big wing or a stretch four. The confidence he’s gaining as he enters the home stretch of his high school career should prove to be invaluable for him when he arrives in Columbia to play for Dennis Gates and the Tigers. Biggest risers in the updated 247Sports Top 150 rankings for the class of 2023

Centers

Departures

Mohamed Diarra — Diarra played a total of six minutes between November 16 and January 10th. And then he was thrust into the heart of the rotation playing at least 10 minutes in 15 of the team’s final 20 games. His size and ability to notch a rebound when needed were important additions. Though his performance was uneven, it’s highly characteristic of Junior College big man transfers. His improvement from early season to late was notable.

Status Update: On 3/28/23 it was announced that Diarra will enter the transfer portal. He subsequently committed to North Carolina State.

Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Potential Returners and Newcomers

Connor Vanover — At long last, Dennis Gates landed his interior size. And Vanover’s height, is prominent. The 7’5” big man started his career at Cal-Berkeley before spending two seasons in the SEC at Arkansas. He transferred for his senior season and was a significant cog in the high-octane offense of Oral Roberts. Using his COVID season, Vanover will use his last season of eligibility in Columbia. While Vanover’s role with the team will be defined closer to the season, there’s no question his rebounding and rim protection are much needed. Furthermore, he’s a versatile offensive piece that can hit jumpers, pass the ball and finish efficiently around the rim.

Mabor Majak — Standing at 7’2”, Mabor Majak possessed what the team lacked for much of the 2023 season: Interior size. However, Majak only appeared four times after Thanksgiving weekend. To his credit, he was asked to lean on Tolu Smith from Mississippi State and did just that. And we all discovered that he had a lefty stroke when he knocked down a vital free throw late in Knoxville. We expect Majak to return, but his role will unlikely be much more than it was this past season.

Jordan Butler — From 247 Commitment article by Dushawn London: “They have a position called the boss for big forwards,’ Butler said. ‘They run the whole offense doing handoffs, make good passes taking jump shots, coming off ball screens, set ball screens and that’s how I see my game, being able to do everything.’ With Butler committed, winning games will be his main priority. ‘I just want to help the team win games, that’s my main thing. For myself I want to get better and see production every day.’” Missouri lands four-star big man Jordan Butler (247sports.com)