Missouri basketball: Analyzing incoming transfers for the 2024-25 season

Marques Warrick 

Missouri lacked reliable scoring this past season, and coach Dennis Gates made a concerted effort to add consistent scoring this offseason. First Gates added Jacob Crews. Then he followed that up by adding Marques Warrick to the roster. Warrick spent the last four years at Northern Kentucky. Last season, Warrick averaged just under 20 points and added 2.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. 

Ever since he stepped on the Northern Kentucky campus four years ago, Warrick proved he could flat-out shoot the ball. As a freshman, he averaged more than 15 points per game and he increased his scoring average each of the next three years. 

Warrick is a reliable scorer that can shoot from anywhere on the court. He scored ten or more points in 29 of 33 games this past season. He scored 30 or more points four times, with a season-high of 39 points in a loss to Wright State. 

Warrick saw his shooting percentage dip as he started to take more shots, which isn’t unexpected, but Warrick still had a good overall shooting percentage this past season. He hit 42.5 percent from the floor, but this number was lower than expected because of the drop in his three-point shooting. He only made 23.8 percent from three this past year after making over 38 percent the year prior. 

For Northern Kentucky, Warrick was the offense. But for Missouri, he won’t be expected to shoulder as much of the scoring load, which in turn should help his shooting percentages improve. 

Warrick has no problem shooting from anywhere on the court. He is most comfortable pulling up from behind the three-point line, but also does a good job getting to the rim. He also gets the the free throw line a decent amount, which is one of the areas Mizzou struggled this past season. 

Much like Tony Perkins, Warrick likes to push the ball in transition. This should allow Missouri to get back the quick pace they played with in Dennis Gates' first season leading the Tigers. 

Warrick isn’t the best defender. He tends to be late in rotations and gets caught on screens. But his defensive ability isn't why Gates wanted him on campus. His scoring ability is. I wouldn't be surprised if his points per game take a dip this upcoming season, with other solid shooters on the team, but his overall scoring ability will be huge for Missouri as the Tigers hope to bounce back next season.