When I think of Mizzou basketball coach Dennis Gates, I also think of another person you read about on these pages — Oliver Marmol.
The Cardinals manager had a tremendous first year on the job (Playoffs!). Of course, so did Gates (NCAA Tournament!).
And the second season? Well, both were historically bad (71-91 and last place! Winless in Southeastern Conference play!).
And so this third year is pivotal for this pair to prove the down year was an aberration.
I think both are impressive thinkers and speakers, equipped to motivate and navigate. And on Monday, Gates sure solidified his case. Mizzou officially announced the signing of a certain transfer:
A former five-star recruit ...
McDonald’s All-American ...
People are also reading…
And two-year starter at Duke ...
Mark Mitchell.
“He’s a kid that could have gone anywhere,†Gates said by phone Monday of the 6-foot-9 forward. “He’s a top 10 portal name but also a kid that has averaged double digits (scoring) in his career at a profile school like Duke University. I think, ultimately, he’s played against the best, he’s gotten everyone’s best — and I think there’s more room to grow, just from the standpoint of what we’ll need him to do.â€
Such as being the next Kobe Brown.
No, Mitchell and the Mizzou hoops legend aren’t the exact same player. But as Post-Dispatch Mizzou writer Eli Hoff concurred, Mitchell has the attributes to fill the Kobe role — that being, The Man.
Brown was The Man. He had the ball in his hands, early and often. He could score tough 2s and deep 3s. He made big shots at big times. He was the fulcrum of the offense. He was a first-round NBA draft pick, by the Clippers.
“Ultimately,†Gates said of Mitchell, “I do think he’s a first-round draft pick. ... I’ve seen him play in high school AAU. And I knew at that point in time that kid was going to be special.â€
Mitchell scored a game-high 19 points in the McDonald’s All-American Game. He started 67 of 68 games for Duke, which went to the Elite Eight this spring. As a sophomore for the Blue Devils, he averaged 11.6 points per game and 6.0 rebounds. Again — Duke!
The Blue Devils have an elite recruiting class coming in — even elite for Duke standards — and that includes No. 1 overall player Cooper Flagg, who plays a similar position that Mitchell did. So Mitchell weighed his options. And as a fellow Kansan once said, there is no place like home — he’s from Kansas City, Kansas.
Oh, and a good friend of Mitchell’s since age 11 — and an AAU teammate — happened to be Tamar Bates, who, yep, plays for Mizzou.
Before last season, Bates transferred to Mizzou from Indiana. He went from 6.5 points to 13.5. And his field-goal shooting percentage went up 10% while with the Tigers.
“He’s one of the people I texted even before I was in the portal, asking him things about Mizzou,†Mitchell said by phone on Monday. “Just bouncing ideas back and forth off him. It’s good when you can hear from someone inside the program. ... And just seeing the leap he took in his game this year, how much better he got.
“(For me), it’s just getting better overall. I think it’s being in a place to show a lot of my game. I had two really good years at Duke, but I think as a player, I can be better. I love Duke. But I’m excited to bring a new element of myself to Mizzou and take my game to another level.â€
Mitchell shared that Gates “blew me away in his (recruiting) Zoom call.†Mitchell cited the coach’s track record, his stellar first year in Columbia and his authenticity.
After my interview with Gates on Monday, the coach independently brought up a point he wanted to hammer home. He wanted to make sure we all understood how strong Mizzou’s transfer class is, beyond Mitchell.
Last season, of course, Mizzou struggled with transfers. But this year’s class sure looks impressive so far (I say “so far†because Mizzou could still possibly sign a low-post player). And with Mitchell, Jacob Crews, Marques Warrick and Tony Perkins (second-team All-Big Ten with Iowa), the Tigers have the No. 6-ranked transfer class, per the site 247sports.
Oh, and guess who has the No. 5 recruiting class, per 247sports?
Mizzou. Here’s thinking the Tigers actually win a conference game this coming season.
“We’re excited about our group,†Gates said. “We got the right kids together, and I think our fan base will be excited.â€