COLUMBIA, Mo. — That was fast.
Missouri men's basketball has its first transfer portal acquisition of a vital offseason: wing Jacob Crews.
He arrives from the University of Tennessee-Martin, where he spent one season. In that campaign, Crews scored 19.1 points per game with 8.2 rebounds and a 41.4 percent clip from 3-point range.
It's a quick add out of the transfer portal for coach Dennis Gates, who sold Mizzou in prompt fashion.
"Genuine love from the whole staff and opportunity to play in one of the best if not the best conference in the country" sold Crews on the Tigers, he wrote in a message to the Post-Dispatch.
"I have won a championship the last two years with teams that had an unlucky year and this is no different," he added. "Mizzou is full of love and people who want to win and need to win. Easy fit when family is first and basketball is next."
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Prior to his year with the Skyhawks, Crews played at Daytona State College and the University of North Florida.
He's listed at 6-8, meaning he'll bring some size and shooting to a Mizzou team that needs both rebounders and shooters. Crews will be 24 when the 2024-2025 season starts, meaning he also brings experience to the MU locker room.
He said he prefers to play on the wing, using his handle to beat power forwards and his frame to post-up smaller defenders — some aggressive versatility that will be an intriguing fit within Gates' offense.
The college basketball transfer portal opened Monday, making Crews one of the first players to find his new school. Missouri's offseason needs also include an experienced primary ball-handler and size that can rectify rebounding and rim-scoring troubles.
Majak enters portal
The Tigers also lost a player in the early bit of offseason activity. Center Mabor Majak, who spent two years at MU after following Gates from Cleveland State, is entering the transfer portal.
He appeared in 28 games this season as Mizzou struggled to find a frontcourt solution. Majak made four shots, blocked five and hauled in 28 rebounds — though he was most highly regarded for his effort on the floor.