While the most of Columbia was paying attention to the Mizzou Spring Game and Tiger baseball hosting Alabama in a doubleheader, Kim Anderson received great news for his basketball team. The Tigers landed commitments from John A. Logan College teammates Martavian Payne and Russell Woods.
Payne is originally from St. Louis and attended Imagine College Prep. He averaged 15.7 points per game and 2.8 assists at Logan. At 6-foot-2, Payne can play the two-guard spot and some point guard.
He and Wes Clark should be considered combo guards, and that can give Anderson a lot of creativity for situational lineups. Those two can be in the lineup together and switch ball-handling duties, or one can move to point guard and play with Namon Wright.
We mentioned that Terrence Phillips can fill the void at point guard with his energy and a willingness to get his teammates excellent opportunities for buckets. Payne adds scoring and experience to a team that despertaely needs it. Yes, Mizzou also desperately needs Phillips’ energy (they need a lot of things after last year).
Another thing that Missouri needed was a big man. They finally added one with Russell Woods. Woods doesn’t have Keanau Post’s height at 6-foot-8, but he brings a lot of toughness and energy, which will make up for his relatively “small” big man frame.
Feb 28, 2015; Athens, GA, USA; Missouri Tigers forward Keanau Post (45) works against Georgia Bulldogs forward/center Yante Maten (1) during the first half at Stegeman Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Woods averaged 6.1 ppg and 5.6 rebounds last year at Logan. He’s originally from Chicago and played at Simeon Academy, and won a couple state championships. He was teammates with Milwaukee Bucks’ top pick Jabari Parker, and current Illinois rising juniors Kendrick Nunn and Jaylon Tate.
Jonathan Williams III leaving earlier this month was the worst possible news, not only because he was the Tigers’ leading scorer but he was one of the few returning big men. Woods won’t replace Williams’ offensive production and may not completely fill that void, but rather band-aid it.
The only big men coming back are Jakeenan Gant, Ryan Rosburg, and D’Angelo Allen. None of them played particularly well last year, and were inconsistent throughout the year. Right now, I’d compare Woods to a more polished Allen, just blue-collar and tough.
These two guys aren’t blue-chip, top-flight prospects and likely won’t completely change the culture of Mizzou basketball, but the most valuable thing that Payne and Woods bring to the table is experience and somewhat of a proven game.
JUCO isn’t the SEC, but Payne and Woods can at least help with the younger guys (Gant, Allen, Wright, Tramaine Isabell, and Teki Gill-Caesar) with their development.
Jan 8, 2015; Columbia, MO, USA; Missouri Tigers guard Namon Wright (12) celebrates in the final seconds of overtime while LSU Tigers guard Tim Quarterman (55) reacts at Mizzou Arena. The Missouri Tigers defeated the LSU Tigers 74-67. Mandatory Credit: Dak Dillon-USA TODAY Sports
Kim Anderson should be elated that he was able to land these two guys, as both provide a lot of versatility to the roster. He should hope that, because they were teammates at Logan, the camaraderie they built together there will carry over to Columbia.
Camaraderie is, again, something that this Missouri team desperately needs.