2015 SEC Basketball Recruiting Haul: Missouri Tigers

Summer basketball workouts are in full swing for all SEC schools as the fourteen-member league attempts to identify and develop skills, toughness, mindsets and chemistry necessary to win this upcoming season. SEC basketball fresh-faced this season but talented, so this series will focus on each SEC team and the new talent to look out for in the 2015-16 season. Today’s focus is on the Missouri Tigers, who will be especially reliant on young faces to build the foundation for a winning program now and in the future.

Missouri Tigers (9-23, 3-15 in 2014 – 15)

K.J. Walton (6’3″, 180 lbs – guard)

Rivals: 4 out of 5*

ESPN: 79/100

247 Sports: 89/100

Scout: 4 out of 5*

Walton hails from Brownsburg, Indiana and is consistently the highest-rated recruit of the Tiger 2015 class. He chose Missouri this summer over offers from Minnesota and Xavier. Walton’s recruitment process was drawn out and a celebrated recruiting “win” for head coach Kim Anderson in his attempt to re-build Missouri back to national relevance. Below is a highlight video for Walton and an analysis of what to expect from the combo guard on the Tigers this coming year.

Walton’s athleticism and scoring prowess are the first things to be noticed. According to MaxPreps, Walton averaged 19.7 points per game last season and accounted for 35% of his high school’s scoring. As seen in the video, Walton can score on the wing, off pick and rolls, off put backs and through fast breaks. Perhaps the most impressive thing in his ability to score is his fearlessness to attack the lane for easy lay-ups and potential and-one opportunities. Expect him to become a staple of the Tiger rotation, and do not be surprised if he is a starter for a team that ranked near the bottom nationally in scoring last season.

Another reason to like Walton is his potential defensive ability. Due to his athleticism, jumping ability and length, Walton could become a real defensive stopper in the SEC. That shouldn’t necessarily be expected right away, but the pieces are there for Walton to become a solid two-way, multi-year player for Missouri. He is exactly the type of foundational piece coach Anderson needs in building his Tiger program.

From an improvement standpoint, Walton will need to improve his outside shooting. He averaged only 29% this past high school season on three-point attempts and may struggle sometimes getting his low shot release off against college competition. Though somewhat nitpicky, he may need to improve his distribution on the offensive end as he averaged less than an assist his senior year of high school last year.

Terrence Phillips (5’10”, 170 lbs) – Guard

Rivals: 3 out of 5*

ESPN: 77/100

247 Sports: 89/100

Scout: 3 out of 5*

The younger half brother of NBA player Brandon Jennings and starting point guard for basketball factory Oak Hill Academy, Phillips gives Missouri immediate help at the point guard spot. Nicknamed “The General”, Phillips possesses an elite passing ability and holds the all-time record in assists at Oak Hill Academy (beating out current NBA point guards such as Jennings, Ty Lawson and Rajon Rondo). His quickness allows him to attack and probe the defense for lay-ups and assists. He also compiled an 88-4 record as a four-year player for Oak Hill and played against some of the best talent in the country. As mentioned, the Tigers backcourt will be crowded, but Phillips will be given an opportunity to contribute, especially if he can prove that he can distribute on a high-level and not turn the ball over.

Improvement areas for Phillips will be in keeping the defense honest with his shooting and bulking up as he may initially struggle guarding bigger point guards.

Overall, Phillips will give coach Anderson another piece to build a winning program. His confidence and expectation and experience winning will be a valuable foundational piece for the Tigers next year and beyond.

Kevin Puryear (6’7″, 225 lbs) – Forward

Rivals: 3 out of 5*

ESPN: N/A

247 Sports: 83/100

Scout: 2 out of 5*

Words such as “winner”, “glue guy”, “toughness” and “gritty” are used to sign coach Anderson’s first signed recruit to the Tigers. Puryear, who will more than likely play on the wing and as an undersized power forward, was under recruited out of high school, but has consistently won as a high school player. This was evident this year as he was the leading scorer (over 20 points per game) on a high school championship team in Missouri. Puryear chose Missouri over offers from schools such as Creighton, Nebraska and Ole Miss.

His game is not flashy, but Puryear does give the Tigers interesting options at the 3 and 4 for the next few years. He has shown the potential to be a threat with a mid-range jumper and from three-point distance, but can also bang on the low block and be an effective rebounder. These types of intangibles and flexibility are important as the Tigers are a bit thin in the front court and having players who can play multiple positions is a staple of any successful basketball team in today’s game.

Puryear will need to improve his ball handling and quickness on the next level. If he is to be a dangerous player on the wing and give the Tigers a multi-positional threat, Puryear needs to show and improve an ability to take players off the dribble. Expect him to contribute minutes this season and give the Tigers whatever they need. Players like this are very useful and can go a long way to improving and building a winning basketball culture.

Other Newcomers:

Martavian Payne (junior-college transfer) (6’2″, 190 lbs) – Guard

Cullen VanLeer (6’4″, 195 lbs) – Guard

Russell Woods (junior-college transfer) (6’8″, 215 lbs) – Forward

Next: Mason Leads Jayhawks in World University Games Exhibition

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