Anton Beard, PG
Strengths:
Beard is a strong and physical lefty point guard that uses his basketball IQ to run the team and set the offense. He pushes the ball with great pace off the dribble or on the advance pass. Beard can get to the rim and finish through contact with either hand and tremendous touch and body control. He hits 3's off the catch or dribble, stops and pops for mid range pull ups and breaks pressure to make plays for himself or teammates with his excellent passing ability. Beard is terrific at feeding the post, drive, draw and kicking to open perimeter shooters and penetrating to finish or drop off. Beard is capable of taking over games with his scoring or by spreading the ball around and making teammates better.
Weaknesses:
At times Beard over penetrates that results in a untimely turnover and he must work on going right. Beard must also not gamble on defense and not get beat off the dribble because when he stays solid and in front of the ball handler he is an excellent on ball defender.
Bottom Line:
Beard is a very complete point guard the can score in a variety of ways, run the team and set up teammates. He is strong and physical and has the ability to take over the game with his scoring and passing.
Commits for 2013-14 season
Johnathan Williams III, PF
Strengths:
Williams is a rare combination of length and skill that reminds many of a young Lamar Odom. At 6'7 and left-handed, Williams possesses a tremendous handle and feel for the game. Like Odom, Williams could be considered a point forward that can initiate offense or take the ball off the glass and lead the break. His energy and constant activity on both ends of the floor is a thing of beauty. He is more than capable of breaking down his defender in a one-on-one situation to create a shot for himself. Once he has his defender on his heals he has a nice step-back jump shot from behind the arc. Williams is a competitor who handles adversity well and keeps his cool in games.
Weaknesses:
A more consistent stroke from three will enhance his overall game because of his ability to handle the ball. Although he plays the game on the perimeter, Williams needs to develop some type of game around the rim in order to take advantage of mis-matches when smaller defenders are assigned to him because of his ability on the floor. Injuries seem to curtail him from being the best he can be. He is slight built and gets knocked around in the post from time to time. Adding strength to his frame would be a major plus for his development.
Bottom Line:
When he is healthy his production level is phenominal, as seen by his being named to the USA U16 squad this past summer (2011). He struggles with nagging injuries that keep him sidelined for periods of time. Williams is ultra capable with his length and skill level. He can score inside with quickness and his ability to use both hands and will step out and knock down the jumper if left open. He runs the floor and can lead the break with his handles or make the correct pass, once his strength catches up he could be a pro.
Wes Clark, PG
Strengths:
Clark is a tough and competitive lead guard that posesses a great motor. He is a good leader and has a very good basketball IQ. Clark can run the team and is the extension of the coach on the floor. He attacks on both ends of the floor and plays to exhaustion. He pushes the ball on the pass or dribble and uses his court vision to deliver drive, draw and kick passes on time and on target. Clark can get to the rim and finish, stop and pop or hit the floater with touch and body control in addition to knocking down open threes off the catch that he can step into. He pressures the ball and is alert in the passing lanes on defense.
Weaknesses:
Clark will need to add strength and continue, not allow the defense to speed him up at times and continue to work to make his jump shot from behind the arc a consistent weapon.
Bottom Line:
Clark is a tough, hard playing point guard that can score and deliver the ball. He is dependable, scrappy and rock solid on both ends of the floor.
Torren Jones, PF
Strengths:
Jones is a man-child with a chiseled frame and very long arms. He runs extremely well in transition and can finish with a series of power dunks in traffic. He is a straight-line type of athlete that has a tremendous burst while attacking the basket. He rebounds well in his area, can fill the lane with the best of them, and his post skills are evolving. He can step out and hit the mid-range jump shot at the elbow and he displayed a nice jump hook over his left shoulder.
Weaknesses:
Jones is quite good when he can operate in space. However, when defenders get into him out on the perimeter or in the paint area, he struggles mightily. He still plays too straight up and down and is still quite rigid (straight-line player). He needs to loosen up his hips to be able to improve his lateral quickness for defending quicker 4-men and to become a more allusive scorer while operating in the paint.
Bottom Line:
Due to his strong physique and overall production at both ends Jones is a solid Division I prospect. With a dearth of bigs out west, look for Jones to get heavily recruited at the mid to high major level.
Keanau Post, C
PowerMizzou.com reported the Tigers have received a verbal from Southwestern Community College (Ill.) center Keanau Post. A recent story in the Belleville News-Democrat noted that Post, a Victoria, British Columbia native who stands 6-feet-11 and weighs 260 pounds, is currently averaging 12 points and ten rebounds a game as a sophomore at Southwestern and was also considering Illinois and Georgetown, among other schools.
Commits for 2012-13 season
Stefan Jankovic, PF
Strengths:
Native of Serbia and resident of Canada. He's the European style power forward who relies on his skill and ability to make jump shots from different spots on the court. His skill set allows him to handle the ball and create. Possesses good touch and developed turnaround from the post though he doesn't have actual post moves in the lane nor does he operate that way.
Weaknesses:
His body has to fill out and he'll need to strike a balance on the glass. Sometimes his frustration level rises and he's prone to distraction. Would like to see him transition easier from scorer to passer. Ball handling must improve.
Bottom Line:
At 6-9, with the skill level he has, one would think he'll wind up signing high-major.
Ryan Rosburg, C
Strengths:
Tough and physical big body post that welcomes contact. Rosburg has decent hands and footwork in the post and runs the floor well. He play hard and displays good basketball IQ and has comfortable shooting range to about 15 feet. Feeds off of contact throughout the game: blocking out on a rebound, taking a charge or setting a mean screen. He effort and attitude is never questioned,he give his best everyday.
Weaknesses:
Rosburg is a good but he's limited athlettically, he gets his work done below the rim. Rosburg could have problems scoring against long athletic posts. He also must be more of a factor on the glass which he is very capable given his willingness to throw his big frame around especially in his area.
Bottom Line:
Rosburg is a big body post that knows how to play and has some scoring weapons inside and out. His ability to contribute to the game will be from a physical standpoint along with a workman like approach to his game and to the season. He is an "everyday player" not a "feel like it player" which will bode well in his future development.
Negus Webster-Chan, G
Strengths:
Webster-Chan brings a very aggressive and attacking approach to the wing position. He has good length and is very athletic. Webster-Chan gets to the rack on a regular basis where he can finish with ease with athletic ability and body control. He can hit open threes when in a groove when his feet are set with needed time and space. Webster-Chan is a good ball handler and passer as well which allows him to help at the point. He is a good defensive rebounder and is a threat to go coast to coast. Webster-Chan is also a multiple position defender as well he does a good job of using his length to pressure the ball and also has good anticipation in the passing lanes.
Weaknesses:
Webster-Chan will need to add strength to his long wiry body and he must work to be a better and more consistent three point shooter. He also at times can get sped up into turnovers.
Bottom Line:
Webster-Chan is an athletic slasher with good size and matching athletic ability. He is a match up problem on the perimeter because of his versatility. He can handle, pass and rebound which allows him to help at the point as well. If Webster-Chan improves his jumper from beyond the arc he could have some unguardable possessions.
Dominique Bull, G
Strengths:
Bull is a physically imposing guard, built like a bulldog with great strength, athleticism, and body control. He is a very dangerous dribble drive player who has the first step to blow by defenders and the power to drive through contact. He has a terrific spin move inside the lane to elude secondary defenders, is a tremendous finisher at the rim, and willing passer off the dribble. He handles the ball well enough to be a valuable secondary ball-handler and has worked hard to develop his jumper. Bull is also an excellent on-the-ball defender.
Weaknesses:
His basketball I.Q. and feel for the game are not ideal, especially in a half court game. He can sometimes force dribble penetration and is not always a good decision maker with the ball in his hands. While his jumper has improved it is still not consistently dependable from three-point range. As good as he is defending the ball, he is equally ineffective away from it, as he tends to get lost on the weak side of the floor and miss rotations. He also isn't nearly as good of a rebounder as he should be.
Bottom Line:
Bull is an aggressive player who is at his best in a fast paced game where his physical tools and dribble drive game can be most valuable. If he can continue to improve his jumper and make better decisions with the basketball, he has the potential to be a big time scorer.
Tony Criswell, PF
Criswell, a 6-foot-9, 225-pound power forward played last season at Independence Community College in Kansas. He’s already spent two seasons on the Division I
level, redshirting his first year at UAB before appearing in 21 games,
including eight starts. He averaged 3.2 points and 3.6
rebounds, though he showed signs of greater potential, such as when he
scored 12 points on 5-for-5 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds at
Memphis. He’s 6-foot-9, 225 pounds. He can step away from the basket, shoot 3s
but also is strong enough to score around the basket, as well. He’s
very versatile.
Eric Moeller, C
DeSmet Spartan Center Eric Moeller was at Mizzou Arena for the team's Selection Sunday celebration and after returning home decided to accept MU's offer to join the team as a preferred walk-on. He plans to sit next season as a redshirt, but will travel with the team and be on the roster. Moeller averaged 11 points, 5 rebounds and 1 block per game this past season for De Smet.
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