"The Perfect Storm" - Jeremiah Tilmon Ready To Make Impact
8/14/2017 11:40:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Learn more about Mizzou's big 6-10, 235-pound freshman forward
By Andrew Melroe, Mizzou Strategic Communications
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Imagine; stepping onto the wrestling mat for the first match of your high school career and what is staring back stands 6-foot-10 and weighs 235 pounds. This hypothetical scenario could have become reality if not for freshman forward Jeremiah Tilmon's middle school basketball coach.
"I was a wrestler before I was a basketball player," Tilmon said. "One day, my middle school coach forced me to play basketball. After a while, I kept playing, kept getting better, and I fell in love with the game."
When November 10 arrives, thousands of screaming Mizzou fans will be thanking Tilmon's middle school coach. Tilmon would transform into a force in the paint on the basketball floor, averaging 15.3 points, 11.0 rebounds and 4.0 blocks per game while earning First Team All-State honors as a senior at East St. Louis High School. After previously being committed to a school that Mizzou plays once a year at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Tilmon decided he wanted to be a Tiger, partly thanks to a relationship formed with Mizzou's other soon-to-be freshman.
"Everybody kept saying I was coming here before I could even talk to the coaches," said Tilmon, who was considered a Top 50 recruit by ESPN, Rivals.com, Scout.com and 247 Sports. "Before I had a chance to meet with Coach Martin, I started talking to Michael and we formed a bond. After getting to know him, Blake and C.J., I told them, 'I'm coming.'"
What a perfect storm of events unfolded for the Black & Gold. Tilmon needed a new home and Mizzou – equipped with the nation's No. 1 overall recruit, Michael Porter, Jr. and four-star prospects Blake Harris and C.J. Roberts – had a scholarship and playing time available. The new head coach, Cuonzo Martin, just so happened to call East St. Louis home, as well.
"All the time growing up, I would hear about him," Tilmon said. "You always heard about how Coach Martin made it out of East St. Louis. Knowing how hard it is and seeing him do it made me believe I could too. So I just used his story as motivation for myself. I got to meet him for the first time right before I committed. We sat down and he talked about how he knew where I came from and what I can accomplish if I just stick to the plan."
Tilmon, who committed to Mizzou on May 15, now had has his new home right in the middle of the Show Me State. Columbia has not been his home for long, but Tilmon has begun to notice plenty that puts him at ease.
"Everywhere we go, especially if we are with Mike, people recognize who we are," Tilmon said. "All the fans go crazy and ask for pictures, which is cool. The fans have done a great job making us feel welcomed."
The focus has never wavered, however, as Tilmon and his teammates prepare for what is turning into a highly anticipated season of Mizzou Basketball.
"This summer, I'm making sure I'm staying on top of my game," Tilmon said. "I'm going to bring my aggressiveness to this team. Being the 'big man' on the court is one of my strengths, so I'll be focusing on getting rebounds, running the floor, getting up in the air and finishing alley-oops at the rim. There is a lot of excitement around the team right now, and we can't wait to show what we can do out on the court."
Staying out of the way of this former wrestler-turned-basketball big man will be important for Mizzou's opponents, just ask senior forward Jordan Barnett (St. Louis, Mo.).
"He's a bull," Barnett said. "He's so strong. I've had to guard him many times, and he's so hard to keep off the glass and to keep him from getting the position he wants."
Fans can make requests for Mizzou Men's Basketball season tickets through the Mizzou Ticket Office by phone (1-800-CAT-PAWS; 573-884-PAWS) or by email (tickets@missouri.edu).
For all the latest on Mizzou Men's Basketball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team at @MizzouHoops (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook).
