COLUMBIA, Mo. - Summer workouts are well underway for the Mizzou Men's Basketball team. The Tigers have regrouped with several fresh faces for the 2015-16 campaign. Get to know each of the new student-athletes on next season's squad with a series of features on MUTigers.com.

Incoming freshman Terrence Phillips graduated from one of the most prestigious high school basketball programs in the country at Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va. Phillips won 88 games in his final two seasons at Oak Hill as the primary ball-handler, dishing out 8.7 assists per game. He finished his career with more starts than any other player in Oak Hill history (105) and became the academy's all-time career assists leader as a senior.

Phillips is a facilitator that has grown up around the game of basketball. He chose Mizzou over offers from Auburn, Georgia State and Loyola Marymount.


Q & A with Terrence Phillips:

Q: During the recruiting process, what stood out to you about Mizzou?

TP: "Mizzou was on my trail in August. What stuck out to me was that they were there the whole time from August, contacted me once or twice a week and as it got closer to my commitment, they were in contact more and more. Mizzou was there the whole time and didn't jump in late like other schools. Mizzou was a fantastic opportunity for me between the facilities, the town and the fans. All of us, me and my teammates, can't wait to bring fans in here to Mizzou Arena."

Q: What do you like about Mizzou and the team so far?

TP: "We're competing every day in practice. That's one thing I like. Coming from Oak Hill Academy, that's something I'm used to. I love the coaching staff, and I love that we were able to bring Corey Tate aboard here. As the summer goes on and the school year starts, I think we'll continue to bond and get to know each other a lot better."

Q: Describe your game to fans who have never seen you play.

TP: "I'm a pass-first guard. I watch a lot of Chris Paul and Steve Nash highlights and see how they get their guys going. I know Chris Paul is great at that. If his teammates get going, he gets going. I'm certainly not comparing myself to him, but I like to watch him and mold my game after him. I want to set my teammates up and be a leader. To me, it doesn't matter if I score 0 points or 10 points. I'd rather be known for things like being in the passing lanes all night long, creating havoc or grabbing one huge rebound that won the game."

Q: What was it like playing for such a prestigious basketball program at Oak Hill Academy and how has it prepared you for this level?

TP: "For the past two years, I've been going against guys that are headed to ACC, Big Ten schools, on and on. I've always had to compete against great players. Being at Oak Hill was the best push for me so far in life and it really helped me get to this point at Mizzou."

Q: How do you feel about the opportunity to take Mizzou to new levels of success?

TP: "I'm excited. It's not just me, I think the fans are excited. I get a lot of tweets telling me that people are excited to see the new team. Over the next four years, I'm looking forward to putting together a winning program, showing people that Mizzou is still on the map and that we're back to our winning ways. It's not just me, I think the freshman are very excited to start something big here. We all plan to be here all four years together."

Q: How important is it for you to make an immediate impact as a freshman?

TP: "It's big. Most freshmen don't get a chance to start and who knows if I will. Whether I do or not, I'm perfectly fine with whatever role I'm given. I just want to help this team win. If I'm in the second unit, I have to be the vocal leader of the second unit. We're going to places like Kentucky and Florida; places that will be sold out. Being that leader and keeping everyone calm is what I embrace."

Q: What are you working on this summer to get better and prepare for major college basketball?

TP: "When I first got here, the coaching staff and I talked about how I'll have to be able to knock down open shots. I've put a lot of work in the gym after hours. It'll help guys like Wes Clark, Tramaine Isabell and Namon Wright, so they have more room to penetrate and shoot. So I'm working on my shot and my ball-handling while getting used to the toughness and the defensive flow of this level."