May 7, 2010

Columbia, Mo. -

Missouri Basketball's 2010 recruiting class received more recognition this week as Rivals.com ranked the group #6 nationally and #1 in the Big 12 Conference.

 

Missouri's six-member recruiting haul includes a pair of Rivals Top 100 players, Tony Mitchell (#12) and Phil Pressey (#61), in addition to National Junior College Athletics Association All-Americans Ricardo Ratliffe and Matt Pressey. Mizzou also nabbed the State of Missouri's top player, Ricky Kreklow, and athletic forward Kadeem Green out of North Carolina.

 

“What you are starting to see is the effect of Coach Anderson being at Missouri for a while and being able to put his footprint on that program,” Rivals.com Basketball Recruiting Analyst Eric Bossi said. “He has made that program attractive to the top players and with that Elite Eight run, kids are standing up and taking notice. This class illustrates that. Missouri is bringing in some high-level kids, but they are also bringing in players that fit Mike Anderson's system. Ricardo Ratliffe is widely considered the top junior college player in the country and Tony Mitchell is an elite athlete. Phil Pressey is one of the top point guards in the country, especially for what Missouri does, and Matt Pressey, Ricky Kreklow and Kadeem Green fit to what Missouri wants to do. Missouri really has a complete class here.”

 

The #6 ranking is the highest ever for a Missouri team in the Rivals.com recruiting ratings and accents a veteran squad of returning players in 2010-11. Mizzou returns five different players that started multiple games during last year's 23-11 season, including four of the team's top five returning scorers, Kim English (14.0), Marcus Denmon (10.4), Laurence Bowers (10.2) and Justin Safford (8.6).

 

For more information on Missouri Basketball please visit our website, mutigers.com.

 

 

2010 Missouri Basketball Recruiting Class

Name                                     Pos.         Ht.           Wt.         Hometown                       Last School

*Matt Pressey                      G             6-3          190         Dallas, Texas                    Navarro College

Phil Pressey                          G             5-10        160         Dallas, Texas                    Episcopal School of Dallas

Tony Mitchell                       G/F          6-8          220         Dallas, Texas                    Pinkston High School

*Ricardo Ratliffe                 F              6-8          240         Newport News, Va.          Central Florida College

Kadeem Green                      F              6-9          210         Markham, Ontario          United Faith

Ricky Kreklow                       G             6-6          190         Columbia, Mo.                 Rock Bridge

 

 

* - Indicates a junior college transfer, will be a junior for the 2010-11 campaign.

 

##MIZZOU - THE FASTEST 40 MINUTES IN BASKETBALL ##