The Tigers’ April surprise arrived Friday. Freshman wing Marcus Allen, the most-played rookie in Missouri basketball's highly touted, five-player Class of 2024 and among the most promising defensive prospects on the team, entered the transfer portal on Friday after his first season in Columbia. Missouri head coach Dennis Gates had called Allen “probably the most consistent of all the freshmen” during the wing’s rookie year. Allen played 9.2 minutes per contest and averaged 2.6 points and 2.0 rebounds per game. According to CBB Analytics, he had more offensive rebounds per 40 minutes than any other Mizzou player and only trailed big man Josh Gray in defensive rebounds per 40 minutes. His 6-foot-7 frame and defensive IQ from his time playing high level preps hoops at AZ Compass Prep and Miami-Norland made him an intriguing defensive piece for Mizzou to potentially develop coming out of his rookie year. Now, he’ll spend Year 2 of his college career elsewhere, marking the first significant blow to the Mizzou roster in this year’s transfer portal. So, what has that done to Mizzou’s immediate needs this season? The Tigers now have four available roster spots to fill in this transfer portal window, with Allen and fellow outgoing transfer Aidan Shaw leaving the program. The transfer portal is open for new entries through April 22.
Who can return, play for Missouri basketball next season?
Point/combo guard: Anthony Robinson II, jr.; T.O. Barrett, so.; Aaron Rowe, fr.
Wing/small forward: Jacob Crews, gr.; Annor Boateng, so.;
Power forward: Mark Mitchell, sr.; Trent Pierce, jr.; Jevon Porter, sr.; Nicholas Randall, fr.
Center: Peyton Marshall, so.; Trent Burns, r-fr. Most of the players listed above are not rigidly limited to a single position, but, the most clear and obvious need for the Tigers are players on the perimeter.
Given who the Tigers have reached out to in the transfer portal, it seems likely that Mizzou will add at least a couple shooters in this window, either as offensive-minded wings or at shooting guard. Entering this portal window, center and point guard also were near the top of the shopping list for Gates and company. Roster limits, until Friday’s new spot opened, complicated matters on that front, as Mizzou may have had to choose one or the other if the space didn’t open. Now, if Mizzou does add a wing and a shooting guard, it would still have room to sign a big man and a ball-handler. But, even with the extra roster spot in hand, is that the right path for the Tigers to go?
Has Mizzou’s portal needs changed with Marcus Allen transfer announcement?
With Allen out of the picture, the Tigers may need to adjust and add more than two players with the versatility to play the perimeter roles. Without the rookie — and with Caleb Grill and Tamar Bates out of eligibility — the Tigers lack a proven defensive presence on the wings. Both Bates and Grill were experienced two-way options. Crews was much more of an offensive-minded player in his first season with the Tigers. Boateng is yet to register significant minutes as a college player. Pierce, who at times essentially was a 6-11 guard last season, is not best known for his defensive acumen. So, there’s a need to perhaps look at a player who can add some defensive presence at those positions. A player that may check both boxes is Southern Illinois transfer Kennard Davis, who has the length at 6-6 to give MU what it likes to run defensively. He also scored 16.3 points per game with a 37.6% clip from 3. Mizzou reportedly has been in contact, so he’s a player to watch over the coming days. Similarly, Syracuse transfer Chris Bell could fit the bill. He’s listed at 6-7 and knocked down triples at a 35.3% mark last season. He has reportedly visited Seton Hall and Memphis, but Mizzou’s name has been in the mix since he entered the portal early in this window.
