Missouri futures? Success with Kevin Knox, Jeremiah Tilmon

The Missouri Tigers’ recruiting class is already one of the best in the country, but what’s the status on Kevin Knox and Jeremiah Tilmon?

The last, oh, 72 hours have been abuzz for Missouri fans. I have also found myself tangled-up in the hype of guys committing, requesting releases, and paying visits to Columbia. Now is the time where we have to take a step back and breathe.

Starting from the top (oh no, here he goes again), head coach Cuonzo Martin has filled out his coaching staff. Over the past few days, he brought in Cornell Mann and Chris Hollender.

Missouri Tigers Basketball

Cornell Mann

Coach Mann has had great success as an assistant at the Division I level. He spent the bulk of his years at Iowa State, helping the program regain its relevance through recruiting connections and his ability to develop talent.

While he was at Iowa State, he recruited Monte Morris from Michigan. Morris, who just finished his senior season for the Cyclones, has broken many Big 12 and school records.

Mann also has a lot of recruiting connections in the southern Michigan area, and at one time, lured Morris away from Michigan. He provides those same connections to Mizzou.

Chris Hollender

Coach Hollender has a life of experiences to draw upon, most of which include playing and coaching basketball. After he graduated from the University of Evansville, he was not selected to play in the NBA. So he did what any amateur athlete with big-league aspirations would do: He went abroad and played professional basketball.

After his father died at the age of 49, Hollender eventually decided to get into coaching, landing a start at Army as an assistant. He later held coaching jobs with Evansville, Mississippi Sate, and most recently University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Considering Hollender’s extensive experience both as a coach and former basketball player, he will impart the hard work ethic, mental, and physical toughness that the Tigers hunger for.

The Recruits

This has been a recurring theme over the last few days. Whether recruits are committing to Mizzou, requesting a release from their intent elsewhere, or requesting to transfer to other programs, we are left to speculate the meaning and implications of such potential changes if the recruit’s intent is to commit to Missouri or elsewhere, or wondering why someone is transferring out.

Known Variables

At this point, we can be certain of the obvious: Michael Porter, Jr. and CJ Roberts are here to stay. Barring some freak occurrence where either, or both, decide they want out, it is with 99.9% likeliness that they aren’t going anywhere.

Unknown Variables

Then, there are the unknown factors. The Tigers will host Kevin Knox (and Porter, Jr.) over the weekend. Knox committing to Mizzou is not a sure thing. He still holds offers from a variety of programs which carry a certain level of clout.

The good news is Missouri is on Knox’s radar. Whether that’s because of Cuonzo Martin’s recruiting ability, or the more likely scenario that MPJ has been in his ear about coming to “check out the Zou,” Knox will, at the very least, visit Columbia.

The second unknown variable is whether Jeremiah Tilmon will be granted his release from Illinois. While he requested his release, following a shakeup in the coaching staff, the Illini have not given any official word on Tilmon’s request. Consider that a slight curveball to the fan psyche.

In the meantime, Missouri likely having the services of Porter, Jr. and Roberts, will go a long way toward making the Tigers relevant among programs around the SEC, at the very least. Mizzou still has a good stock of returning athletes to draw from, and who knows? The weekend could provide surprising answers.