COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Basketball landed its first top-100 recruit for the 2023 class this week in Trent Pierce, a 6-8 forward out of Tulsa, Oklahoma. 

Pierce had other offers, most notably from Oklahoma State and Minnesota, two programs that had been pursuing him for over a year. The recruit’s decision surprised many, given the fact that Missouri basketball coach Dennis Gates and staff entered the picture only a few months ago. 

During his junior season at Union High School, Pierce averaged an impressive double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds per game. In conference play Pierce faced stiff competition from other top-level recruits, including five-star combo guard David Castillo, who is on Team USA’s U-17 squad.

Recruiters find Pierce’s greatest asset to be his high-level play on defense. 

Mizzou also recently landed Anthony Robinson II, a three-star point guard from Florida, who’s a member of the 2023 class as well. 

These moves are the latest in what has been a very busy recruiting season for Gates, both in high school and the transfer portal.

Last month, Missouri State standout guard and Columbia native Isiaih Mosley shocked the Missouri basketball world when he committed to Mizzou out of the transfer portal. This is along with a number of players who followed Gates to Mizzou after playing with him at Cleveland State.

These exciting new players, along with first-year Coach Gates, bring hope of a bounceback season for Mizzou fans after a disappointing 12-21 finish last year.