Dennis Gates’ rise to national prominance is here. His Missouri Tigers continue to progress every year, both on and off the hardwood.
After establishing himself at Cleveland State, reeling in two Horizon League titles in three years, Gates took the throne at Mizzou and it has been a homerun hire for the Tigers.
You look at the landscape of college hoops. NIL, is loyalty still a factor? With that being said, I believe Gates is bringing in his type of guys, program changers. It began this past Spring when he landed one of the biggest commits in Missouri history.
Jason Crowe Jr. is a superstar guard hailing from Inglewood, California. His Top-5 ranking across multiple outlets gives Dennis Gates not only one of 2026’s premier recruits, but, a guy who can change Mizzou basketball for the better.
Crowe Jr’s scoring prowess is one of the most elite in basketball. You could argue he was one of the best players on any AAU circuit this year, with averages of 23 points per game, over 40% from three, and added four boards, four assists, and a steal.
I think his ability to be a volume scorer and get hot on the offensive end at a snap of a finger will be put on display in the SEC next year. He also continues to develop physically which will be vital going into the tough and gritty SEC.
Can’t overstate how big this commitment was. He gave Dennis Gates a pledge before taking a single visit and now it seems as if the relationship continues to skyrocket.
Then you’ve got a strong, dynamic forward in Toni Bryant. This is a pickup that is sneaky good for Dennis Gates and his staff. 6-9 forward who continues to get stronger and does the important things, especially heading into the SEC.
He blocks shots, he rebounds at a high-rate on both ends of the floor, and my favorite part of his game that continues to grow is his three-point shot. If you’ve got a guy with his size and explosiveness being a plus in multiple facets of the game, you’ve got a gem.
Bryant has credited Gates’ loyalty and knowledge of the game to him over the years as a big reason of why he gave Mizzou his pledge. This is a guy who will seemlessly fit into the SEC.
Aidan Chronister was the most recent add to this talented class and a guy that I think is laying under-the-radar, but, will earn his respect during his senior campaign.
One of the biggest shooting threats in the entire 2026 class, Chronister has established himself as a high-end shooter who also spaces the floor very well.
You won’t see Chronister handling the ball often or on the ball, but that is an area he is looking to expand. His effectiveness is off the catch, where if open, he usually is knocking down his shots.
This is a guy who can develop very nicely at Mizzou under Dennis Gates and his staff. Plug and play guy with assets that will be very benefical for not only himself, but the guys around him that benefit off good spacing and having an elite scoring threat off the ball.
Missouri was a first-round exit in the tournament this past year, but that will change. This program is trending upwards and recruits are noticing it and people around hoops are on notice.
With Dennis Gates spearheading this thing, the Tigers are on the rise.
