Written by Turkey Tom | 12 May 2010

We’ve heard this class is good, but just how good? Here’s what the major recruiting services are saying about the players in Mizzou’s 2010 recruiting class.

 

Tony Mitchell

6’8 220 - SF

Dallas TX, Pinkston HS

Rivals: ***** (#12 overall player, #2 SF)

Scout: ***** (#2 SF)

ESPN: ***** (#24 overall, #8 PF)

ESPN Grade: 95

Comments:

• “Mitchell is making his case as the most dynamic athlete of the state's Class of 2010. The 6-foot-8 Missouri signee often plays as a man among boys.”

-Damon Sales Texashoops.com

• “Josh Selby, Harrison Barnes, Enes Kanter, Kyrie Irving, Brandon Knight, Perry Jones and Tony Mitchell would have been candidates to skip college and go straight to the NBA.”

–Jerry Meyer Rivals.com

• Tony Mitchell was ranked as the 3^rd best rebounder and 4^rd best defender of the forwards in the 2010 basketball class by rivals.com
• Averaged 20.5 PPG, 13.3 RPG, and 4.4 APG this season.

 

Ricardo Ratliffe

6’9 225 - PF/C

Ocala FL, Ocala Junior College

Rivals: **** (#1 Overall junior college player)

Scout: ****

ESPN: *****

ESPN Grade: 95

Comments:

• “ This young man is a scoring machine in the paint. He is a big time athlete who runs the floor with terrific speed, jumps a second time quickly or jumps over you to score. What makes him special is that he has great physical attributes along with a soft scoring touch. He is a willing rebounder on both ends of the floor.”

–Scouts Inc. on Ricardo Ratliffe

• Averaged 26.7 PPG, 11.1 RPG, and shot 61 percent from the field including 39 percent from three-point range.
• Played in the NJCAA All-American game

Mizzou could have used some of Ratliffe's size and athleticism in the paint last year.

 

Phil Pressey

5’10 160 - PG

Dallas TX, Episcopal School of Dallas

Rivals: **** (#61 overall player, #15 PG)

Scout: **** #11 PG

ESPN: ***** (#42 overall, #9 PG)

ESPN Grade: 95

Comments:

• Ranked as the 3^rd best ball handler in the 2010 PG class by rivals.com.
• “Pressey knows how to keep a play alive. He continually threatens the defense with his ball-handling ability.”

- Jerry Meyer, rivals.com

• “ A Missouri signee, Pressey is cat quick and deceptively athletic. The 5-foot-10 point guard isn't afraid to dunk on taller defenders.”

- Damon Sales, texashoops.com

• Averaged 20.2 PPG 7.3 RPG and 7 APG this season

 

Ricky Kreklow

6’5 185 - SG/SF

Columbia MO, Rockbridge HS

Rivals: ***

Scout: *** (#31 SF)

ESPN: **** (#75 SG)

;ESPN Grade: 88

Comments:

“ Kreklow is a very good 3-point shooter for his size. He has good skills and is a very good passer who minimizes mistakes and shares the ball.”

- Scouts Inc.

 

Matt Pressey

6’2 - SG

Dallas TX, Navarro Junior College

Rivals: No Ranking

Scout: **

ESPN: ****

ESPN Grade: 84

Comments:

• “Pressey has a very diversified game, giving him the ability to wear many hats for his team. He has a good body, strength and leaping ability which gives him the ability to guard the opposing team's best player despite sometimes giving up a few inches in height. He moves his feet very well on defense and pressures the ball effectively. On the offensive end, Pressey has good ball-handling skills and uses his quickness to easily get to the rim. He also will stick the perimeter jumper from 3-point range if left alone, but he really excels off the dribble and shooting the mid-range jump shot. He also plays well in the open court, effectively finishing in transition. Pressey plays as the typical glue guy for a team, doing whatever his teams requires for a victory.”

- Scouts Inc.

• Played in the NJCAA All-American game

 

Kadeem Green

6’8 185 - PF

Charlotte NC, United Faith Christian Academy

Rivals: ***

Scout: *** (#38 PF)

ESPN: **** (#64 PF)

ESPN Grade: 89

Comments:

• “Green is a very good athlete that runs the floor and can finish inside with athletic scoring moves. His great length allows him to be a factor on the glass at both ends of the floor. He scores in the post with good strength and has comfortable shooting range out to about 15 feet. He is a good enough athlete to defend both forward positions as well.”

-Scouts Inc.

 

Overall Class:

Rivals.com: Class Rank #6, #1 in the Big 12

Scout.com: Class Rank #6, #1 in the Big 12

ESPN.com: Class Rank #11, #1 in the Big 12

Comments:

• “Led by five-star forward Tony Mitchell, the Missouri 2010 recruiting class is definitely a top-10 class. In fact, it is possibly a top-five class. Ricardo Ratliffe is considered the top post player coming out of the junior college ranks. The class also includes Matt Pressey's younger brother Phil Pressey, who is a four-star prospect. Phil Pressey is the quintessential playmaker at the point guard position. Three-star shooter Ricky Kreklow and promising combo forward Kadeem Green round out the class.”

–Jerry Meyer Rivals.com

My Thoughts:

Obviously, Mitchell, Ratliffe, and Phil Pressey are going to get a lot of hype and attention. And they should. That comment above about Mitchell going straight to the NBA really says something about his natural talent. But don’t sleep on the three other recruits.

The coaches went after Green early for a reason. He was committed by October and should develop into a solid contributor for the Tigers. As for Matt Pressey, the comments above speak to the type of player coaches think he can be. He’s a type of guy that every team needs. Kim English described him a lot like Zaire Taylor except better offensively. That is high praise.

Finally, with Kreklow, everyone is quick to draw comparisons to another tall, skinny, white small forward that played for the Tigers in Matt Lawrence. I think that is selling Kreklow a little short. Lawrence was a fantastic three-point shooter and a good team guy, but spot up shooting and solid effort were about all you were going to get from Lawrence (not that that is bad, he filled his role well). I’ve seen Kreklow in person and he is more athletic than you might guess. He plays tough D (not exactly Lawrence’s specialty) and seems to know what he’s doing on the basketball court. Throw in the fact that he’s been scrimmaging and hanging out with current members of the team and that only benefits his development.

Rivals and other recruiting sites have only been around for about 8-10 years, but this is easily Missouri’s best class in that time period. Then again, you never know what can happen. The 2004 class of Marshall Brown, Kalen Grimes, Jason Horton, and Glen Dandridge was supposed to be one of the Big 12’s best. Safe to say that uh… didn’t pan out.

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