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Missouri basketball could have a top-5 recruiting class in 2017

By Eric Quackenbush

Mar 29, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; McDonalds All-American West forward Michael Porter (1) is introduced during player introductions for the 40th Annual McDonald's High School All-American Game at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 29, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; McDonalds All-American West forward Michael Porter (1) is introduced during player introductions for the 40th Annual McDonald's High School All-American Game at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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A recent release of 2017 recruiting class rankings showed movement from Missouri, according to Rivals.

Missouri basketball is in new territory, which we didn’t think possible – at least not fresh off of an eight-win season.

According to Rivals, the Tigers hold the seventh-ranked recruiting class, and are one commit away from moving into the top-5. Michael Porter, Jr., Jeremiah Tilmon, CJ Roberts, Blake Harris, and graduate transfer Kassius Robertson have signed their financial aid agreements.

I use the term liberally, because I think it’s more a matter of when (2017 or 2018), but if Tigers’ prospective recruit Jontay Porter decides to reclassify to play for Missouri in 2017, it should push Mizzou into the top-5, 2017 recruiting class.

Missouri Tigers Basketball
Missouri Tigers Basketball /

Missouri Tigers Basketball

A top-5 recruiting class is awesome! Top-10 is great, also – you really can’t ask for much more once a team lands in the top-10, and Missouri pulled in some of the best talent in this year’s class.

Next, Mizzou has to take all that talent and transition the top-10 recruiting class from paper into live action.

Figuring out the best placement of his new players and where they will play to their strengths in the rotation, will be a job for head coach Cuonzo Martin.

A more common theme than I’d like to hear associated with Martin’s previous teams, is “he’s a great recruiter and builds strong recruiting classes, but can’t win with the talent.”

It’s a phrase which, outside of Missouri, I have also grown accustomed to, and until last year, believed more with Penn State’s head football coach, James Franklin.

After seeing how that program has evolved and became successful, I have reassessed and believe that given a new opportunity, any coach can turn strong recruiting classes into winners on the field, or on the court.

There may be a catch, which is that it might take more than a season or two. But that’s another story for a later time.

Coach Martin has a tremendous amount of talent committed to his 2017 team, which will go along nicely with a few of the foundational pieces remaining from last year’s team.

Next: When will Missouri get Jontay Porter?

I don’t think I’ve ever been this excited for a Missouri basketball season – I’ve always held hope for success, but it’s a measured amount of hope, because reality soon sets in. I believe that the 2017 Tigers will live-up to the hype.

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