Missouri now has one scholarship remaining to offer the 2017 recruiting class. Who is most likely to take the offer?
Sometimes titles are misleading, but I assure you that is not the case, here. While Missouri is definitely in the market for one more recruit, there is always the possibility that if a second recruit wanted to commit, then another scholarship could open.
We’re not privy to the dealings that occur behind closed doors. As fans, when we see that the Tigers have five open scholarships to start any recruiting season, then we have the basis for our reality: There are five scholarships – nothing more, and nothing less.
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We can see, by looking at the face of any brick, that they are rectangular and have four sides.
We also aren’t naïve enough to believe that when a program fills its five scholarships, the proverbial doors close, and it’s business as usual. It may seem the norm, but not always.
Such is the case for Missouri. Early in its recruiting efforts, after the hiring of head coach Cuonzo Martin, the Tigers landed Michael Porter, Jr.
A few days later, two recruits under former head coach Kim Anderson opted to transfer out.
The transfers-out made room for Missouri to sign Blake Harris and CJ Roberts, while still leaving at least two more scholarships for a potential (at the time) commit from Kevin Knox and Jeremiah Tilmon.
While Knox has since committed to the University of Kentucky, Tilmon remains uncommitted, after his release from commitment to Illinois.
Early in May, former Canisius guard, Kassius Robertson, transferred his last year of eligibility to play for Mizzou in 2017. The transfer means the Tigers are left with one scholarship.
The remaining scholarship potentially has two interested parties: Jeremiah Tilmon and Jontay Porter.
Recent news reports that DePaul University is in the running for Tilmon’s services, which shares a brief history between the 4 star recruit and DePaul’s newly hired assistant, Shane Heirman.
Heirman, who was the head basketball coach at La Lumiere School, La Porte (Ind.), was hired by Leitao as an assistant. Heirman coached Tilmon for the single season he played at La Lumiere.
Rumors being what they are, should be taken at face value; however, they recently favor the possibility that Tilmon is closer to committing to DePaul, largely based on the hiring of his former high school coach.
However, there is another rumor that the relationship between Tilmon and Heirman soured, which caused Tilmon to return to East St. Louis (Ill.).
Should Tilmon decide to commit to Mizzou, then that would effectively close the door on any remaining prospects hoping to commit to Missouri for the upcoming season. Unless, of course, that commit comes from a highly desired recruit such as Jontay Porter.
While it seems highly unorthodox to encourage an athlete to request a transfer, it is an aspect of recruiting and building a program that occurs more often than we may be aware.
DePaul having one scholarship left may also work to Missouri’s advantage, depending on how committed the Demons are to their former recruits.
Meanwhile, the question begs – who, on either roster, becomes the odd man out? It’s probably more matter of “when,” than “if.”